(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown's State of the State address.

“Governor Brown continues to articulate a clear vision for California – what’s good for California is good for the United States of America.  With low unemployment and high job growth, we lead the nation economically.  At a time of strong fiscal growth, we must continue to champion a responsible budget with a strong reserve.  Unfortunately, the Governor’s budget contains an almost $2 billion error.  Instead of having his administration share in the sacrifice, he is asking vulnerable Californians and college students to bear the burden of cuts.  With Washington now pursuing an agenda at odds with California values, we need to come together and continue to fight for more jobs, housing, and transportation so Californians can provide for their families, have a roof over their head, and have convenient ways to get where they need to be.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released the following statement about Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed state budget for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.  The Assembly Budget Committee will release a preliminary analysis of the proposal later today online at http://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/.  Ting’s statement follows.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Inspired by Uber’s illegal debut of autonomous or self-driving vehicles last month, Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco) introduced legislation to increase penalties on such companies while also giving communities the means to remove illegal vehicles from the road.

“I applaud our innovation economy and all the companies developing autonomous vehicle technology, but no community should face what we did in San Francisco. The pursuit of innovation does not include a license to put innocent lives at risk,” said Ting. “Nearly every company knows and acts like it is part of a community. They follow the law. We need stronger enforcement tools to protect ourselves from those recklessly putting profit before public safety.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, released his blueprint for the state budget, focusing first on protecting California’s finances from new threats coming from Washington and ensuring all parts of the state share in the California Dream.

“We have a lot to be proud of in California.  We have one of the world’s largest economies, we invest in the success and security of our people, and we have a level of financial stability envied by other states.  Yet, some of our people still suffer and we must invest in them,” said Ting.  “We need a plan to move this state forward.  We can’t govern by asking a Magic 8 Ball whether Washington will hit us this way or that way.”

California bucks national trend of LGBT discrimination with “all gender” single-user restroom access

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – Governor Jerry Brown signed legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) establishing the nation’s most inclusive restroom access law among states.

Assembly Bill (AB) 1732 makes all single-user restrooms in California businesses, government buildings, and places of public accommodation universally accessible to all genders starting March 1, 2017.  Sponsored by Equality California, the Transgender Law Center and California NOW, the bill stands in sharp contrast with 19 states this year that considered restricting access to restrooms, locker rooms, and other sex-segregated facilities on biological sex.

(SACRAMENTO, CA) –Local communities will receive new powers to protect their streets from tour bus accidents following Governor Jerry Brown’s signature of legislation authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).

“Communities deserve a say in keeping their people safe.  They can now take a more active role in preventing tragedies caused by tour buses by ensuring that more are inspected,” said Ting.  “Tourism is a vital part of our local economies but we must share the road safely.”