(SACRAMENTO, CA)  Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Budget Committee, issued the following statement in response to the findings of an independent state audit that concluded the University of California disadvantaged California students in its admissions and financial decisions.  Ting’s statement follows.

“I am a proud Cal graduate, which makes today’s news extremely sad.  This audit confirms my worst suspicions about how the University of California has been managed.  It is shocking to see how undervalued resident students are being treated by an institution created to educate them.  Also troubling is the huge cloud over the credibility of university leadership who has intentionally kept the Legislature in the dark.  We have long sought answers about university practices impacting California students and it’s now clear that we have been either snowballed or misled.  Despite today’s news, one thing is very clear.  Lawmakers are even more committed to see big changes at the University of California that get more residents enrolled, particularly at campuses like Cal, UCLA and UCSD where they were most excluded.”

(SACRAMENTO, CA) Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) honored Cathy Meyer of San Francisco's Outer Mission, Merced Heights, Ingleside (OMI) neighborhood during the State Assembly's Woman of the Year celebration conducted each year to celebrate Women's History Month.

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco) was appointed by Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) to serve as the next Chairman of the State Assembly Budget Committee.  He is the first Asian Pacific Islander to serve in this position.  A statement from Ting follows.

“California’s budget must be a blueprint for shared success.  Our challenge is to expand opportunity while responsibly saving for the future.  We have made great sacrifices to achieve today’s unprecedented financial stability.  It must be protected while we invest in a better future.  Budgets are about values and nothing is more important than ensuring every opportunity is available for our kids.  We must preserve access to a quality education by ensuring recent school funding reforms benefit high needs students, by expanding the availability of affordable college degrees through our public universities, and by doing more to educate kids at a younger age.  After having reached a bipartisan agreement on funding for health care and services for Californians living with developmental disabilities, I hope our progress is contagious.  Enduring challenges require breakthroughs for how we will invest in our infrastructure and fight climate change.  By rising to the occasion, we will leave the state better off than we have found it.”

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco) issued the following statement after Anthony Rendon (D-Paramount) was sworn in as the 70th Speaker of the California State Assembly.

“Rendon will be a thoughtful leader, working to ensure that all people have a voice and are heard.  Aided by longer term limits, he will preside over the rebirth of the Assembly as a stronger champion for all Californians. Lawmakers are energized to be part of this change and finally tackle enduring challenges, like poverty, that persist. This inspired sense of possibility is contagious.  It taps into why all of us ran for public office. We want to improve the state we love, and we will be better positioned to do so with Rendon’s leadership.”

(San Francisco, CA) – The California State Assembly passed a package of bills today to enact comprehensive tobacco reform.  The legislation now moves to the State Senate for further review.  Ting’s statement follows.

“We stood up to big tobacco to protect our kids and workers.  These are long overdue reforms to protect the public from the dangers of tobacco.  We strengthened workplace protections from second hand smoke, enforcement against those who sell tobacco to kids, and applied tobacco regulations onto e-cigarettes which are shamelessly marketed to our kids.”

(San Francisco, CA) – The California State Legislature approved a bipartisan agreement today to reform health and developmental services funding through restructuring a tax paid by managed care organizations to preserve access to federal funds.  The agreement was reached within a special session of the Legislature convened by Governor Jerry Brown last June.

“This deal will save lives by ensuring that more vulnerable Californians get the care they need,” said Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco).  “It took years to revisit tough cuts to health care and developmental services made during the Great Recession and months of work to put this agreement together.  Today’s vote is not a Leap Day miracle.  It’s just the right thing to do.  Let’s keep our momentum going, strike while the iron is hot, and find a way to fund our state’s unmet infrastructure investment needs.”

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) – Assemblymembers Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) and Das Williams (D-Carpinteria), the Vice Chair and Chair of the Asian Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus, announced new legislation to permanently recognize Lunar New Year in California.

Assembly Bill (AB) 2598 would designate Lunar New Year’s Day as having special significance to the State of California, encourage schools to conduct culturally appropriate activities and exercises in observance of the occasion, and directs the governor to annually proclaim the date corresponding with the lunar calendar as Lunar New Year’s Day.  The bill is also authored by Assemblymembers Rob Bonta (D-Alameda), Ed Chau (D-Arcadia), David Chu (D-San Francisco), Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) and Evan Low (D-Campbell) along with Senator Richard Pan (D-Sacramento).

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA) –Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco) announced legislation to establish the nation’s most progressive restroom access law among the states.  AB 1732 would require single-occupancy restrooms in California businesses, government buildings, and public spaces to be identified as “all gender.”

"Restrooms are a necessity of life. Access to them influences our ability to participate in public life," said Ting. "Signs restricting single-use restroom access by gender create problems of convenience, fairness, and safety. They defy common sense, which is why many of us ignore them. 'All gender' signs will end these problems and ensure everyone's rights are protected."

(Sacramento, CA) – Assemblymember Phil Ting (D–San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation, issued the following statement about Governor Jerry Brown’s State of the State Address.  Ting’s statement follows.

“California is at a turning point and it’s time for big ideas.  We are investing more than ever in education, leading the charge on climate change, and saving to cushion the inevitable return of tougher days.  As we resume unfinished business with healthcare and infrastructure funding, we cannot ignore larger questions about revenue.  We need a plan to make California stronger.  Voter approved taxes are phasing out and our financial stability makes this the perfect time to pursue tax reform.  A range of tax initiatives may reach the ballot this fall and elected leaders cannot sit on the sidelines.  We must rise to the occasion and upgrade our tax code for the 21st Century.  This will bring the state greater stability and enable us to continue investing in a more prosperous future for our citizens and our economy.”