March 25, 2015

Sacramento, CA – Senator Mike McGuire, working with Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, helped secure critical funding from state water and drought relief bonds to fight devastating illegal water diversions from trespass marijuana grows in Northern California. These illegal grows, compounded with historic drought conditions, have had a significant negative impact on Northern California watersheds and forests.

2014 was the first year since written records have been kept that both the Eel and the Mattole Rivers ran dry, due to the historic state drought and a multitude of illegal diversions.

The bond dollars, which were approved on the Senate Floor late Wednesday afternoon, will be immediately put to work through the California Department of Fish & Wildlife. Fish & Wildlife will utilize the $2 million McGuire helped secure to hire an additional 11 positions that will be focused on ending the thousands of illegal cultivation related diversions in Northern California watersheds. These 11 positions will join a Marijuana Taskforce which was created last year by the Governor Brown’s Office.

“The ongoing drought has been devastating to our rural areas and I applaud Governor Brown, President Pro Tem de Leon and Speaker Atkins for advancing these desperately needed investments,” Senator McGuire said. “Northern California has been particularly hard hit due to the state’s historic drought and the thousands of illegal marijuana grows that have taken hold in our forests.” 

The overall $1 billion package will expedite bond funding to make the state more resilient to the disastrous effects of climate change and help ensure that all Californians have access to local water supplies.

“North Coast watersheds are under attack and the drought is exacerbating these impacts on drinking water supplies, our environment and they represent a severe threat to endangered species. This money is a good step in the right direction, but there is a long road ahead and I’ll continue to fight to make sure Northern California has the resources it needs to combat this historic drought,” Senator McGuire said.

There will also be expanded funding for the protection of streams and rivers for instream flows, fish and habitat as well as water efficiency programs to benefit local customers.

“There’s more to come as we work together at the state and local levels to fight for the funds our rural counties and small cities need to create and update the water infrastructure projects,” Senator McGuire said.

March 21, 2015

In this week’s address, the President called on Republicans in Congress to stop playing politics with law enforcement and national security and confirm Loretta Lynch as Attorney General of the United States.

March 08, 2015

President Obama delivers remarks from the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, marking the 50th anniversary of the marches from Selma to Montgomery.

March 7, 2015

In this week’s weekly address, President Obama discusses an issue close to his heart: education for adolescent girls around the world.

March 5. 2015

Dem Club Leadership and Treasurer Workshop  

Learn New Skills – Exchange Best Practices

Date:  March 14, 2015

Time:  8:30am – 12:00pm

Place:  IBEW LU 180, 720-B Technology Way, Napa CA 94558

This California Democratic Council (CDC) workshop resulted from an assessment of local Democratic Clubs around the state, which wanted help with a number of critical issues:

• Declining club membership and a need for club growth, effectiveness, and relevance
• Developing concern about club meetings/events and a need to make them more interesting, informative, and fun
• Increased interest in gaining a better understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order, including how to bring order to a disorderly meeting
• Increasing number of untrained club treasurers and the need for a “keep it simple,” but “keep us out of jail” workshop
• Increasing threats to basic democratic principles and the need to clarify and expand the progressive message
• Growing concern that we need to get motivated, organized and ready to elect Democrats in 2016

The Workshop for Dem Club Leaders and Club Treasurers is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2015, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, at the IBEW LU 180, 720-B Technology Way, CA 94558.   

Our expert presenters/discussion leaders will include:

• Jess Durfee, National Democratic Committee Member and Immediate Past Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party
• Herb Engstrom, Club Treasurer and CDC Treasure

Agenda for the morning sessions:

• 08:00am – Setup
• 08:30am – Registration and Social (coffee, tea, juice, snacks)
• 08:45am – Session 1:  What Club Treasurers Needs to Know and Do (Keep it Simple)?
• 10:00am – Break
• 10:15am – Session 2:  How to Run Good Meetings and Robert’s Rules (Best Practices)?
• 11:45pm – Closure and Clean Up
• 12:00pm – Conclude

RSVP and for more information, follow the link…  Workshop Registration by Donation 

March 4, 2015

Sacramento, CA – After weeks of working with the state Office of Emergency Services, Senator Mike McGuire has helped secure more than $900,000 in emergency funds to help Lake County recover from the devastating effects of a series of storms in early December.

Governor Jerry Brown this week issued an emergency proclamation for counties across the state that experienced damage from the series of rainstorms, high winds and flooding beginning Nov. 30. The storms impacted people and property by damaging private and public facilities and infrastructure and forced evacuations in some areas.

“The storms caused major damage to Lake County’s roads and infrastructure and we have been working overtime to ensure Lake County communities receive the resources necessary for a full recovery. We are grateful to work with the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to deliver over $900,000 in disaster assistance, which will help the county recover from these significant storm events,” Senator McGuire said.

The storms caused extensive damage throughout the state. On Dec. 22, Gov. Brown also declared a State of Emergency in Marin and Mendocino counties as a result of damage to highways in those counties as well.

Lake County experienced damage to critical infrastructure, including local highways and roads and the majority of the emergency state funds will be used to repair and restore Lake County’s roadways.

Assemblymember Bill Dodd was instrumental in the efforts to secure the much-needed funding to help Lake County recover from the storm damage.

March 2, 2015

Dem Club Leadership and Treasurer Workshop  

Learn New Skills – Exchange Best Practices

Date:  March 14, 2015

Time:  8:30am – 12:00pm

Place:  IBEW LU 180, 720-B Technology Way, Napa CA 94558

This California Democratic Council (CDC) workshop resulted from an assessment of local Democratic Clubs around the state, which wanted help with a number of critical issues:

• Declining club membership and a need for club growth, effectiveness, and relevance
• Developing concern about club meetings/events and a need to make them more interesting, informative, and fun
• Increased interest in gaining a better understanding of Robert’s Rules of Order, including how to bring order to a disorderly meeting
• Increasing number of untrained club treasurers and the need for a “keep it simple,” but “keep us out of jail” workshop
• Increasing threats to basic democratic principles and the need to clarify and expand the progressive message
• Growing concern that we need to get motivated, organized and ready to elect Democrats in 2016

The Workshop for Dem Club Leaders and Club Treasurers is scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2015, 8:30 am – 12:00 pm, at the IBEW LU 180, 720-B Technology Way, CA 94558.   

Our expert presenters/discussion leaders will include:

• Jess Durfee, National Democratic Committee Member and Immediate Past Chair of the San Diego County Democratic Party
• Herb Engstrom, Club Treasurer and CDC Treasure

Agenda for the morning sessions:

• 08:00am – Setup
• 08:30am – Registration and Social (coffee, tea, juice, snacks)
• 08:45am – Session 1:  What Club Treasurers Needs to Know and Do (Keep it Simple)?
• 10:00am – Break
• 10:15am – Session 2:  How to Run Good Meetings and Robert’s Rules (Best Practices)?
• 11:45pm – Closure and Clean Up
• 12:00pm – Conclude

RSVP and for more information, follow the link…  Workshop Registration by Donation 

Monday, February 23, 2015

Sacramento, CA – State Senator Mike McGuire introduced legislation this week to protect old growth redwoods — the tallest trees on the planet – and put a stop to the devastating  practice of burl theft  from our state and national parks and California’s forests. Burls – the dormant, knobby material that grows at the base of redwood trees – are the primary method of redwood tree regeneration. When burls are hacked away, it significantly injures, and can actually kill the state’s beloved old growth redwoods.

Cases of burl poaching have continued to increase, destroying old growth redwoods and causing substantial damage to our cherished state and national parks, threatening endangered species and wasting valuable public resources. Over the past five years, there have been more than 100 cases of old growth redwood burl theft from North Coast Redwoods.

SB 288, introduced Feb. 19, would make redwood burl theft a felony crime carrying a fine of up to $10,000.

“Burl poachers are literally carving away our state parks and threatening some of our nation’s most beloved treasures – old growth California redwoods. We must act now to protect these majestic trees and to prosecute these butchers who are causing irreversible harm to our forests for personal profit,” Senator McGuire said.

The incidents of redwood burl theft have increased, and so has the size of the burls being taken. Poachers are able to sell the beautiful, hard wood, which is used to create decorative products and trinkets, at high prices. Currently, the crime is a simple misdemeanor with no fine.

Senator McGuire represents the largest tract of old growth redwoods in the world. The Redwood National and State Park – a United Nations World Heritage Site – is 133,000 acres, 40,000 of which is home to spectacular old growth redwood. Only about 5 percent of the old growth redwood remains from the original 2 million acres.

SB288 is co-authored by State Assemblymember Jim Wood and has already garnered the support of local District Attorneys and state parks representatives.

Humboldt County District Attorney Maggie Fleming: “I appreciate Senator McGuire’s rapid and well-reasoned response to the issue of redwood burl theft, which I hope will prevent irreparable harm to the natural resources in our national and state parks and other lands. If such crimes do occur in the future, the Humboldt County DAs Office will take full advantage of the legislation in dealing with offenders.”

Del Norte District Attorney Dale Trigg: “We are truly blessed to live in this unique part of the world where we are surrounded by the majestic Redwoods.  It is our obligation to the world to protect these treasures.  I applaud Sen. McGuire for his efforts to protect the Redwoods and fully support and endorse this legislation.”

Liz Burko, Acting Superintendent, North Coast Redwoods District, California State Parks: “Burl poaching along the North Coast is a major concern to our iconic state parks. Cutting burls from redwoods can cause irreparable damage to the historic trees.”

Photo courtesy National Park Service attached: Wildlife biologist Terry Hines stands next to an old growth redwood tree near Klamath that was gutted by burl poachers in 2013.

For more information or questions, please contact Kerrie Lindecker, Communications Coordinator, at 707-319-3654, or email her at kerrie.lindecker@sen.ca.gov.

Burl poaching in the news:

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/09/us/poachers-attack-beloved-elders-of-california-its-redwoods.html

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/03/140306-redwood-poachers-burl-wood-national-park-crime/

http://www.cnn.com/2014/05/06/us/california-redwoods-poaching/

February 18, 2015

In this week’s address, the President underscored the importance of continuing to grow our economy and support good-paying jobs for our workers by opening up new markets for American goods and services.

While America’s businesses, ranchers, and farmers are already exporting goods at record levels, there’s more room for growth with 95 percent of the world’s customers living outside our borders. In order to pursue new trade agreements, the President called on Congress to pass trade promotion authority so that the U.S. — not China — can play a leading role in negotiating 21st century trade deals that protect our workers, support good wages, and help grow the middle class.

February 8, 2015

President Obama highlights the progress our economy has made, with more than 3.1 million jobs created in 2014 – the best year for job growth since the late 1990s. America has come a long way, and with the right policies focused on middle-class economics, we can continue to grow our economy into one where those who work hard can get ahead.