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May 9th, 2012 | Category: Uncategorized |
Urge the State Assembly to Increase Pressure on Iran
Last week the State Assembly Insurance Committee approved AB 2160 (Blumenfield). This bill is a vital part of national and international efforts to ratchet up economic pressure on the government of Iran and to pressure it to stop its nuclear weapon program.
The current government of Iran is a known sponsor of terrorism against people across the globe. Recently Iran has been proven to be behind major acts of terror against American troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has defied the United Nations and the European Union in its pursuit to develop an atomic weapon. Possession of a nuclear bomb by Iran threatens not just Israel but the safety of all of our allies in the Middle East and abroad. Further, it would undoubtedly unleash a nuclear arms race among the nations in that region, and possibly beyond.
AB 2160 builds on the momentum of previous Federal and State policies which place economic pressure on Iran’s government. This bill requires a domestic insurer to treat any indirect investment in the Iranian energy sector as a non-admitted asset on the financial statements of that insurer in filings with the California Insurance Commissioner. AB 2160 does not require divestment nor does it impose any penalty on the insurer, it simply brings this investment into the public eye.
The Jewish Federation of Greater Los Angeles, along with its partner, the Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) and its member organizations across California, urges you to contact your Assemblymember and ask them to support AB 2160 today!
If you have any questions, please contact Debbie Dyner Harris at (323) 761-8158 or ddynerharris@jewishla.org.
ACTION
Contact your Assemblymember today and ask them to join in the effort to increase the pressure on Iran’s government. The more individuals and organizations who contact the Assembly in support of this bill, the better chance it has of getting approved.
If you need assistance identifying your representative, please visit: http://192.234.213.69/amapsearch/ and type in your address.
May 2nd, 2012 | Category: Uncategorized |
The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC)
Statewide Advocacy Day
Monday, May 14th –
Tuesday,
May 15th, 2012
The Citizen Hotel
926 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95814
Please join JPAC at our 2012 JPAC Advocacy Day! Come together with Jewish leaders and activists from all across the State to learn more about the issues that matter most to our community and to have direct access to our elected representatives in Sacramento.
Our work at JPAC’s Advocacy Day will include lobbying on some of the State’s most pressing current issues, including balancing our budget, Iran Divestment, human trafficking and maintaining vital social services.
Agenda
Monday, May 14, 2012
6:00-7:30 pm - Legislative Reception - Featuring Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield, who will be honored with the Jerry Sampson Memorial Award
Metropolitan Terrace, The Citizen Hotel
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
8:00 am Registration and Breakfast
Metropolitan Terrace, The Citizen Hotel
9:30 am Opening Session
The Citizen Hotel
Welcome by Michael Sweet, JPAC Chair
“A Snap Shot of Where
California is Headed in these Difficult Times”
Speaker John Perez
Speaker,
California State Assembly
State Treasurer Bill Lockyer
Treasurer,
State of California
Michael Cohen, Chief Deputy Director
California
Department of Finance
11:25 am - Preparation Time- We will spend this time going through the issues we will be lobbying on in the afternoon meetings.
12:15 pm Lunch Program
The Citizen Hotel
Keynote Speaker: State
Controller John Chiang*
Controller, State of California
Earl Raab Award Presentation
1:30-4:00 pm - Legislative Appointments, State Capitol Building
Legislation for JPAC’s Advocacy Day:
1. AB 2160 (Blumenfield)
AB 2160 would empower the
California Insurance Commissioner to disallow investments in Iran from assets
that would otherwise contribute to evaluation of the financial solvency of
insurers as a condition for operating in California. This
bill would fall into the divestment category.
Bill http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_2151-2200/ab_2160_bill_20120223_introduced.pdf
2. SB 1193 (Steinberg)
This bill would require specific businesses to post a
list of resources to assist victims of human trafficking. The bill
further requires specified businesses and other establishments to post a notice
informing the public and victims of human trafficking of telephone hotlines
through which to seek help or report unlawful activity
Bill http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/sen/sb_1151-1200/sb_1193_bill_20120222_introduced.pdf
3. AB 1732 (Campos)
This bill would expand under the definition of
bullying the following terms “electronic act” via a post on a social
network Internet Web site “burn pages,” “credible
impersonations,” and “false profiles.” The author states,
“AB 1732 recognizes both the tremendous leap in popularity of social
networking sites since the inception of our anti-bullying law, and the potential
that the resulting popularity has an increased ability for cyber bullies to
spread their messages, through the creation of ‘burn page or an impersonation
page. Therefore, these forms of cyber bullying should be addressed and
covered under the Education Code anti-bullying provisions.”
http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/11-12/bill/asm/ab_1701-1750/ab_1732_cfa_20120413_122923_asm_floor.html
4. Budget Items – Discussion
will surround efforts to maintain existing funding for vital social services.
July 6th, 2011 | Category: Action Alert | This past Friday while we were preparing for our 4th of July festivities, the Greek government displayed great leadership and a genuine commitment towards the people of Israel and all who yearn for peace in the region.
As you may have heard, several Flotilla boats docked in Greek ports, including the U.S. ship “The Audacity of Hope,” were barred from leaving port July 1st by the Greek coast guard. The captain of “The Audacity of Hope” was briefly arrested by Greek officials for violating orders and Flotilla participants were offered the opportunity to transport all aid through legal channels.
In order to show our solidarity with the people of Israel and commend the nation of Greece for its efforts, we ask you to please take a few minutes to thank the Greek Government for their role in advancing peace.
Please call or email the Greek Consulate:
LOS ANGELES (CA zip codes 90001-92999) - The Honorable Elisabeth Fotiadou, Consul General
(310) 826-5555 or lagr@greekembassy.org
SAN FRANCISCO (CA zip codes 93000 and up) - The Honorable Ioannis Andreades, Consul General
(415) 775-2102 or sfgr@greekembassy.org
Sample Text: “I would like to express my gratitude to you, the Greek government and specifically the Greek Minister of Citizen Protection Mr. C. Papoutsis, for prohibiting ships docked at Greek ports from departing for Gaza.”
Thank you for your help.
BACKGROUND: Hamas and other terrorist groups in Gaza have fired more than 8,000 rockets and mortars into Israel since 2005. Over 300 rockets have been fired to date in 2011. Because of Hamas’ continued violence, and its rejection of key international community requirements: to recognize Israel, renounce violence and accept previous Israeli-Palestinian agreements; Israel instituted a maritime blockade off the coast of Gaza to protect its citizens. The Quartet - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - has stated that flotillas are not helpful for resolving the situation and will only escalate tensions. Similarly, the U.S. Department of State has already spoken out about attempts to break the Israeli maritime blockade of Gaza, labeling it “provocative” and “irresponsible.” The Israeli government has repeatedly said it is willing to transport all genuine humanitarian aid to Gaza, but the flotilla organizers refuse to cooperate.
Two Key Bills Supported By JPAC Pass Assembly:
AB 1151, the Divest from Iran Act
AB 6, the CalFRESH Act
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (June 1, 2011) - Two key bills supported by JPAC this legislative session and prioritized during JPAC’s Annual Advocacy Day in Sacramento last month passed the Assembly today.
Assembly Bill 1151 passed with a bipartisan vote of 72-0. The bill, authored by Assembly members Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and Bob Blumenfield (D-San Fernando Valley), would enhance California’s current divestiture law and bring new levels of transparency and accountability to California’s public pension funds, helping ensure that taxpayer dollars do not go toward investing in companies that do business with Iranian energy interests.
Assembly members Feuer and Blumenfield have been waging a multi-prong campaign to ensure that California’s financial resources are not invested in companies doing business in Iran’s energy sector and not used to bolster Iran’s nuclear weapons development or extremist activities. Last month, Assembly members Feuer, Blumenfield and Furutani held an oversight hearing to investigate why the California Public Employee Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) had failed to comply with a 2007 law requiring public pensions to divest from companies with business interests in Iran. CalPERS announced only days before the hearing that it would divest most of its investments in businesses with interests in Iran’s energy sector. The hearing confirmed that, although the law requiring divestiture became effective on January 1, 2008, CalPERS had failed to effectuate meaningful divestment. Last year, Feuer and Blumenfield authored the Iran Contracting Act of 2010, which prohibits contracts of $1 million or more between the State of California (including its cities and counties) and companies with significant business in Iran’s energy sector. AB 1650 also passed with bipartisan support.
Assembly Bill 6 passed by a vote of 43-21. The bill, authored by Assembly member Felipe Fuentes (D-Los Angeles) seeks to increase access to and participation in CalFresh (California’s new name for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program [SNAP], the federal program formerly known as Food Stamps), by removing barriers and simplifying the application process, while simultaneously implementing cost savings efforts.
Only About 50% of eligible Californians do not participate in CalFresh, ranking California second to last among states in measures of participation. Increasing participation to near 100% of eligible households, as other states have done, could mean an additional $4.9 billion in federal benefits for needy Californians. Eliminating barriers to CalFresh participation will help stimulate the economy, feed the hungry, and bring California into alignment with every other state at a time when far too many families are struggling to put food on the table.
Both bills must next move onto the Senate for passage.
CONTACT:
Caron Spector Berkley, JPAC Association Director
caron@jpac-cal.org
(323) 761-8163
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
JPAC Joins Legislative Champions in Pushing
CalPERS at Iran Divestment Oversight Hearing
SACRAMENTO, CA (May 26, 2011) - The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) was the key sponsor of a Legislative Oversight Hearing in Sacramento last week to review the implementation of AB 221. Also known as the California Public Divest from Iran Act, AB 221 was authored in 2007 by then-Assembly member Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon) and signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger the same year. The bill required both the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) and the California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS) to (1) identify companies in their investment portfolios that had business operations in the Iranian energy or defense sectors or links to terrorist organizations and (2) to either engage those companies to take substantial action to end operations or to divest from them entirely.
Assembly Chair Warren Furutani (D-Long Beach) convened the May 18 hearing - which Board members of CalPERS and CalSTRS participated in after more than three years of avoiding public hearings on the matter - at the request of JPAC. CalPERS has long claimed that fiduciary duty prevented them from taking the necessary actions to divest. Furutani made it clear throughout the sometimes contentious hearing that a decision by CalPERS two days prior to finally divest from Iran was welcome but overdue. He emphasized that the Committee would continue to provide oversight over the implementation and future actions of the retirement system.
JPAC Chair Michael Sweet testified that CalPERS in particular had openly defied the intent of the Legislature and was late in coming to the table. “It is clear that the timing of the announcement two days before the oversight hearing emphasizes the importance of continued Legislative oversight,” said Sweet. “There is no doubt in my mind that but for the scheduled oversight hearing, CalPERS would not have announced its change in position.”
Assembly member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), co-author of AB 221, hammered CalPERS about their continued refusal to acknowledge that investment in Iran continued following the passage of AB 221 in 2007. Feuer also questioned the timeframe of the Board’s new policy and the need for transparency in the CALPERS divestment process. Feuer’s AB 1151, introduced earlier this year and jointly authored with Assembly member Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles), would require CalPERS and CalSTRS to hold public hearings on any decision not to divest pursuant to AB 221.
Feuer was joined at the hearing by Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) who questioned CalPERS’s refusal to accept its responsibility to implement the intent of the Legislature. Speaker Perez’s presence at an oversight hearing in the middle of state budget deliberations emphasized the importance of the issue to the Legislature and its leadership. Assembly member Bob Blumenfield (D-Los Angeles), Chair of the Budget Committee, and Assembly member Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) also played principal roles in the hearing, pushing CalPERS to confirm that they would be divesting.
The hearing began with remarks by Mr. Michael Makovsky, Director of Foreign Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center in Washington D.C. Makovsky shared a sobering overview of Iran’s race to develop nuclear weapons despite worldwide efforts to deter the Iranian regime. He also provided a report on international and national efforts to impose sanctions as an alternative to military options. With approximately $236 billion in market assets, CalPERS is the nation’s largest public pension fund. The withdrawal of the fund’s investments in the Iranian economy is a major boost to comprehensive sanctions efforts intended to slow the progress of the Iranian government’s nuclear, chemical, and biological missile programs.
A DVD of the May 18 legislative oversight hearing is available.
CONTACT:
Caron Spector Berkley, JPAC Association Director
caron@jpac-cal.org
(323) 761-8163
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