2023 PCDCC LEGISLATION COMMITTEE FUTURE OUTLOOK

Commentary by
Terry P Rodriguez
PCDCC Legislation Chair

Unexpected success came this past November 2022 in our general elections. Our party endured the onslaught of authoritarianism when American voters prevented the opposition from gaining powerful control of the House. Equally important, we attained majority Senate representation, thereby giving Democrats leadership control of its’ committees. Most significantly, cracks in the tribalism of the opposition party are starting to appear with the possible return of the legislative process of compromise.

This election also changed the opposition party’s realization that working with their counterparts in doing the people’s business wins seats in Congress. However, this has always been the Democratic path to success in both past and the current election. We must publicly stress successes.

This was evident with the passage of two House Resolution Bills (HR7181 and HR8404) but stalled in the Senate by committees headed by the Republicans. H.R. 8404 (Respect for Marriage Act), finally moved post-election having passed in the Senate with 61 votes cast by a combination of both parties. H.R. 7181, Human Trafficking Prevention Act of 2022, received a unanimous vote in the Senate. Both these measures were recently endorsed by the Placer County Democratic Party and have been signed into law by President Biden.

The next Federal and State Legislation Sessions of 2023 through 2024 will be challenging. Yet, this can be a shining moment for our Democratic Party. Congress and the State Legislature will have a new set of measures. Those that have expired during the last session will be reintroduced. Democratic legislation will have an easier transit through our Democratic Party controlled Senate, whose members will head all its committees.

Federal and State Legislation introduced or enacted into law by Democratic Party lawmakers represents what we have accomplished for the American people of all walks of life regardless of political party affiliation. These are the successes we must trumpet emphatically, stating that the Democratic Party Delivers. We must give our Placer County electorate reasons why they should vote for our candidates. The PCDC Legislation Committee will be back in action starting in January 2023. We need to expand our legislative topics beyond what we’ve covered in the past. Broadening our subjects will provide additional reasons to support keeping Democrats in control of our legislative processes. In this endeavor, we need new additional members. If this committee interest you, the reader, consider joining our team.

The more legislation our PCDCC announces that we support, and those that have been enacted into law, the stronger our message we present, that Democrats Deliver.