January / February 2013 Newsletter

I AM HONORED TO SERVE YOU!

Senator Roth with Governor Brown.

I am here to represent you and to help with any issues or problems you have regarding state government and I will be working hard to represent you in our state capitol in Sacramento.

I am honored to serve a strong, diverse region of California that is also an important part of our state. For too long Inland Southern California has not had its fair share of services and funding. I am here to be a strong voice fighting for our community's fair share in Sacramento.

Inland Southern California is helping lead California out of the global economic recession and I am encouraged by our region's continued economic growth. It is my duty and honor to support the residents of the 31st Senate District, working to ensure government works for you.

I want to provide you with information on the work I'm doing on your behalf in Sacramento. Please feel free to share this newsletter and I am happy to add anyone who wishes to be on the mailing list to receive this newsletter.

HOW TO CONTACT ME

It is my honor to represent and serve you. My staff and I can assist you on a number of issues and state services including issues relating to:

• Consumer complaints
• Unemployment insurance
• Child support and child care
• Disability insurance
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Workers' compensation
• Medi-Cal
• Franchise Tax Board
• Government forms and applications
• Complaints about state departments
• Small business assistance

My staff and I can also assist if you are looking for resources to resolve other issues and problems including:

• Mediating between you and government agencies or offices;
• Assisting you in obtaining funding for local projects, such as bikeways, parks, schools, or senior citizen programs;
• Bringing state experts into your community for technical assistance or advice on local issues;
• Helping communicate your concerns to local, state and federal officials;
• Bringing state administrators into your community so they hear first-hand about local needs;
• Visiting your neighborhood or group to discuss state legislation and/or programs.

My job is to help make government work for you so please let me know how I can help you!

My Riverside District Office is temporarily located at 5225 Canyon Crest Drive, Suite #360, Riverside, CA 92507. My Riverside Office phone number is (951) 680-6750.

Please Note: My District Office Team is moving this Spring to the State Office Building in Downtown Riverside - Details will be forthcoming.

My Sacramento Capitol Office is located at State Capitol Room 4034, Sacramento, CA 95814. My Capitol Office phone number is (916) 651-4031.

You can always e-mail me by clicking here

In this Issue:

• Introduction of Legislation to Fund UC Riverside Medical School
• Fairness and a Funding Fix for New Riverside Cities
• Government Accountability
• Photographs in and around the District and in the State Capitol
• Thank you!

INTRODUCTION OF LEGISLATION TO FUND
UC RIVERSIDE MEDICAL SCHOOL

Senator Roth introducing Senate Bill 21.

On Monday December 3, 2013, the first day I was sworn into office, I introduced Senate Bill 21 to provide the new Medical School at the University of California Riverside (UCR) with ongoing funding to ensure completion of the accreditation process. Fully funding the medical school will maximize the number of students eligible to enroll and allow it to grow to its largest sustainable level, helping meet our growing regional and statewide doctor shortage.

This is my top legislative priority and it was the primary reason I ran for elected office. I am working hard to secure the on-going funding for the UCR Medical School by working closely with UCR, the UC Regents and my colleagues in the Legislature.

The first step for the continued success of our region is to maximize the financial investment UCR and our community made to get the medical school fully up and running.

Our community did its part to raise the money to get the medical school open. Now it is time for the State to do its fair share in this partnership. If we don't have doctors, we can't meet the healthcare needs of our residents, including critical services in hospitals and our community clinics.

California is suffering from a shortage of physicians -- the projected statewide physician shortfall is expected to be 17,000 by the year 2015. There is an immediate need for more doctors to provide critical health care services to our residents and all of California. A recent New York Times news story stated that Inland Southern California "...has about 40 primary care doctors and 70 specialists per 100,000 residents - the worst shortage in California, in both cases." This ratio is lower than Libya and Tunisia.

The UCR Medical School will be part of the solution to the challenge of increasing primary care physicians and meeting the increasing demand for healthcare services.

Senate Bill 21 is awaiting its first hearing before the Senate Education Committee.

FAIRNESS AND A FUNDING FIX FOR NEW RIVERSIDE CITIES

Cities and local government are the backbone of our community. I believe the most cost efficient and direct way to provide services is through local government. Due to state budget cuts, California's four newest cities (all in Riverside County) lost a source of funding new cities throughout California have had to allow them to provide services to residents during their start-up period.

The loss of this state money means one of those new Riverside cities, Jurupa Valley, faces losing cityhood through no fault of their own. I believe this is an issue of fairness and I am working to get our new cities the money they need and deserve. This is why I've co-authored Senate Bill 56 with Senator Bill Emmerson (R-Hemet) to help restore funding for newly incorporated cities.

Citizens voted to be a city and they did it following the established rules and protocols. The state funding was eliminated after residents voted for cityhood - a vote that was based on the state funding being available. The State owes them the right to have their own city and govern themselves.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY

Government needs to be accountable to the People. To me that means government has a responsibility to do the right thing and should always let people know what is being done with their money.

Public trust has been severely impacted by recent state accounting scandals. We owe the taxpayers a commitment to ensure their money is being used appropriately.

In the military we held people accountable for their official statements. We owe California's taxpayers the same duty. That is why I've introduced Senate Bill 801 to hold state officials and employees civilly and criminally liable if they knowingly misrepresent the balance of an account containing state funds to the California Department of Finance, regardless of whether the amount was overreported or underreported.

Senator Roth being sworn in to serve on the Little Hoover Commission.

Without accountability and transparency, we lose the faith and trust of California's taxpayers. I believe the voters sent me to Sacramento to ask tough questions and to fix problems. Government must be accountable to California's residents and taxpayers. Democrats want to regulate business but often government itself does not meet those same standards.

Any person having the responsibility of managing money belonging to the people of California should be fully responsible for their work. The message to state officials is simple - if you lie about how much taxpayer money you have or where you have it, you have to face the consequences.

I was also pleased to have been selected by the Senate Rules Committee to serve on the State of California's Little Hoover Commission. The Little Hoover Commission is an independent state oversight agency that was created in 1962. The Commission's mission is to investigate state government operations and - through reports, recommendations and legislative proposals - promote efficiency, economy and improved service. I look forward to working with the other members of the Commission to improve government service to all Californians.

PHOTOGRAPHS IN AND AROUND THE 31st SENATE DISTRICT
AND IN THE STATE CAPITOL

Senator Roth with Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey at the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce 2013 State of the City Address.	Senator Roth and Oscar Valdepeña, President/CEO of Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce at the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.
Senator Roth with Ramona play actor and Jaeger Jones, Past Chairman of Miller-Jones Mortuary at the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.	Senator Roth with Jamil Dada, Board President of March Field Air Museum and Assemblymember Jose Medina at the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce Installation Dinner.
Senator Roth with Major General David S. Baldwin, The Adjutant General of the California National Guard.	Senator Roth with Kenneth Young, Riverside County Superintendent of Schools.
Senator Roth being interviewed on the floor of the State Assembly, following Governor Brown's State of the State Address on January 24, 2013.	Senator Roth meets with Riverside's Monday Morning Group in the Governor's Office in Sacramento on January 28, 2012.
Senator Roth being interviewed on the set of California Edition with host Brad Pomerance on January 31, 2013 in Riverside.	Photograph of Senator Roth with YMCA/ YWCA Model Legislature on Senate Floor February 14, 2013.
Photograph of Senator Roth with YMCA/ YWCA Model Legislature on Senate Floor February 14, 2013.	Photograph of Senator Roth speaking to AMVETS in Sacramento February 27, 2013.

THANK YOU for reading my newsletter and please contact me if I may be of any assistance to you. It is an honor to represent you in Sacramento.

RICHARD D. ROTH
Senator, 31st District