Inland lawmakers' unfinished business

BY JEFF HORSEMAN / STAFF WRITER

It’s recess time for the California Legislature after a session that saw lawmakers pass a $167.6 billion budget, allow the children of undocumented immigrants to get health care and impose stricter rules for childhood vaccinations.

Weighty issues remain for lawmakers when they reconvene Aug. 17. Special sessions are ongoing to deal with the state’s backlog of road and bridge repairs and funding for Medi-Cal, California’s health insurance program for the poor.

On transportation, a bill sponsored by Democrats would raise the gas tax and vehicle and license fees to fund roadwork. Republicans have countered with a plan that relies on existing funds.

A monthly flat tax of $7.88 per Medi-Cal patient has been proposed for California health plans so the state could retain $1.1 billion in federal matching funds. The tax also would fund home care services, programs for the developmentally disabled and raise Medi-Cal provider reimbursement rates.

Still in limbo is a bill that would provide financial relief to Eastvale, Jurupa Valley, Menifee and Wildomar, four cities hit hard by the loss of vehicle license fee revenue in 2011. Bills to raise the minimum wage, impose criminal penalties for flying drones that interfere with firefighting efforts and regulate medical marijuana dispensaries are pending.

Members of the Inland delegation to Sacramento discussed the session and shared their accomplishments and disappointments. Click or swipe through the slideshow to read what they had to say.

RICHARD ROTH

Office: Senate

Party: Democratic

Represents: Corona; Eastvale; Jurupa Valley; Moreno Valley; Norco; Perris and the city of Riverside.

Roth is spearheading efforts to help the four cities hurt by the loss of vehicle license fees. He also worked to get state budget funding for the Work for Warriors program and to give UC Riverside a chance to be considered as the site of the California Air Resources Board research facility.

Roth is sponsoring a bill that would give businesses tax incentives and other tools to comply with disabilities access laws. Another Roth bill would fund more trial court judge positions in Riverside and San Bernardino counties.