By
Terry P Rodriguez
PCDCC Legislation Committee Chair

The first sessions of the 118th Congress and the 2023-2024 California Legislature have given us an interesting and intriguing year as shown by the results they produced when comparing our California State Assembly to the U. S. Congress.

The California Assembly is represented by 62 Democrats and 18 Republicans. Upon the closing of the current session of the California State Legislature, Governor Newsom was presented with some 1,100 measures passed by our Democratic majority legislators for his signature. Compare this to only 18 Federal Congressional bills becoming law during the current first year of the 118th Congress with a Republican majority House of Representatives. What does this reveal about the state of our legislator’s focus on carrying out the business of the people?

Compare this to the U.S. Congress and the Senate. The U.S. Congressional House is divided between 225 Republicans and 217 Democrats. The Senate Chamber is represented by 51 Democrats, 3 Independents, and 49 Republicans. The California State Assembly has the strength in Democratic representation to enact their platform, while the Federal House switches back and forth over the election years, depending upon which party holds the power of doing, or not doing, the people's business.

In 2021, with Democrats in the majority of Congress, approximately 81 measures became Public Law. Compare this to 2023 with Republicans controlling the House, limiting action in the Democratic majority Senate, with fewer than 19 bills becoming law. What did the 117th Congressional Session accomplish with Democrats in control of both Houses of Congress? According to the American Bar Association, 262 laws were passed. The top accomplishments enacted into law were The American Rescue Plan; The Juneteenth National Independence Day Act; The Honoring our PACT Act of 2022 expanding health care and benefits for military service members who were exposed to toxins while on active duty; and The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 which included lowering the cost of prescriptive drugs.

The 118th Congress has shown Republicans in chaotic control of the House in 2023 and in a state of disunity over the selection of a House Speaker. Congress enacted legislation raising the debt ceiling; four bills related to veterans; implementation of an agreement for trade between the United States and Taiwan; amendment of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 allowing for Federal funding for shooting sports training; and one directing the Director of National Intelligence to declassify documents on the origin of Covid-19, focusing the blame on a lab in Wuhan China.

The evidence is clear. Democrats in control of the House are productive in enacting the people's business into law which benefits the nation. Republicans in control of one or both branches of the House are less productive, demonstrating few signs of bipartisan compromise. House Democrats urged Republicans to select a Speaker from their party who will return the process of bipartisan compromise to create and pass laws benefiting everyone. However, House Republicans have exhibited they have priorities other than those related to the people's business and benefit.

Democratic voters have a choice. That choice is to exercise our power of the vote in large numbers. The goal is to return the power of the House back to the process of bipartisan compromise. In the current atmosphere of our political system of law-making, Democrats are the only legislators who will “Deliver for the American people.”