May 17th, 2011 | Category:
News |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Jewish Public Affairs Committee Lauds News of
CalPERS Divestment from Iran
SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA (May 17, 2011) - The Jewish Public Affairs Committee of California (JPAC) welcomed news late yesterday that the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) adopted a plan to divest its remaining shares of public companies operating in specific segments of the Iranian economy. New investments in these companies would be blocked as well.
CalPERS was compelled to implement an Iran divestment process over three years ago with the unanimous passage of AB 221, the Iran Divestment Act of 2007, a bill authored by then-Assembly member, now-State Senator, Joel Anderson and signed into law the same year.
“The statewide Jewish community is thrilled that CalPERS has committed to joining with a growing number of major governments and institutions in the Western world to end Iran’s effort to develop nuclear weapons,” said Michael Sweet, JPAC’s Board Chair. “Today, we can truly say that CalPERS acts in the best interests their investors - the public working men and women of California - and that they have taken meaningful steps to make clear that Iran’s terrorist activities and nuclear ambitions will not be supported or advanced in any way by the people of California.”
JPAC worked tirelessly behind the scenes for the past several years to push for full implementation of the legislation through meetings with state legislators and PERS Board members, and testimony at numerous legislative hearings.
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, biological and missile programs.
CONTACT:
Caron Spector Berkley, JPAC Association Director
caron@jpac-cal.org
(323) 761-8163
April 21st, 2011 | Category:
Uncategorized |
Don’t miss your chance to participate in the
Annual JPAC Advocacy Day in Sacramento
May 9-10
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: May 2
Click HERE for more information and to register.
Confirmed speakers for JPAC’s Advocacy Day in Sacramento next month include:
Assembly Speaker John A. Perez
Assemblymember Bob Blumenfield
Senator Joel Anderson
Assemblymember Mike Gatto
Assemblymember Mike Feuer
Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones.
Join us for the most important day for the statewide Jewish community! Click HERE for more information and to register.
April 1st, 2011 | Category:
JPAC Organizational News |
ATTEND A CAPITOL TRADITION
Honorable Marty Block, Bob Blumenfield, Mike Feuer, Bonnie Lowenthal, Jeff Miller, Dr. Linda Halderman, Mark Leno, Alan Lowenthal, Lois Wolk
&
Senate President Pro-Tem Darrell Steinberg and Speaker John Pérez
Invite You to Attend
the 46th Annual Senator Herschel Rosenthal
Capitol Passover Seder
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
6:00 PM-9:00 PM
Albert Einstein Residence Center
1935 Wright Street, Sacramento
RSVP by April 25, 2011. Seating Limited to 128 People.
Mail $40.00 check payable to “AERC” to:
Capitol Passover Seder
2705 12th Street
Sacramento, CA 95818
For Information call Gary Cooper at (916) 442-4344.
All members of the Capitol Community are invited to attend.
The fee covers the cost of the dinner/AERC is a 501(c)(3) organization.
February 22nd, 2011 | Category:
Action Alert,
Assembly,
Budget,
JFS,
Senate |
For many years, JPAC members have advocated in Sacramento on behalf of Adult Day Health Care (ADHC) and Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) - two critically important programs for medically frail, low-income seniors provided by Jewish Family & Children’s Services in the Bay Area and Jewish Family Service in Los Angeles.
Last week, the State Senate and State Assembly Budget Committees voted on the cuts proposed by Governor Brown. The Assembly Budget Committee wisely rejected the proposal to eliminate ADHC and MSSP and instead voted to adopt a number of changes to ADHC that will create $28 million of real budget savings, and, voted to keep MSSP completely funded. Unfortunately, the Senate Budget Committee voted to completely eliminate ADHC and to cut MSSP funding by 25%. These cuts would have a truly tragic impact and would actually cost the state more money than it saves. If this action is not reversed, thousands of medically fragile, poor older adults will be forced to move into nursing homes and/or end up in emergency rooms.
Since the votes were different, it now goes the Budget Conference Committee for reconciliation. We expect a vote early THIS week. We need your help to urge Sacramento decision makers to adopt the Assembly’s proposals on ADHC and MSSP.
Please call the state senators and assembly members listed below and tell them:
“I’m calling to ask the Senator/Assemblymember to protect vulnerable low-income seniors in California. Please accept the Assembly Budget Committee’s proposals on ADHC and MSSP which rely on highly skilled health care professionals to help poor, medically frail seniors to remain safely at home.”
Calls are needed to:
- Assembly Budget Committee Chair Bob Blumenfield: 916-319-2040
- Assembly Budget Committee Vice Chair Jim Nielsen: 916-319-2002
- Senate Budget Committee Chair Mark Leno: 916-651-4003
- Senate Budget Committee Vice-Chair Robert Huff: 916-651-4029
- Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg: 916-651-4006
- Senate Minority Leader Robert Dutton: 916-651-4031
- Assembly Speaker John Perez: 916-319-2046
- Assembly Minority Leader Connie Conway: 916-319-2034
On behalf of the JPAC member providers and the clients they serve, thank you!
