Despite the enormous difficulty Democrats and Republicans in the California Legislature have had reaching agreement on how to fund transportation and which projects to fund, they have agreed on AB 2222, which would create a statewide discounted student transit pass program for low-income K-12 and public college and university students! Proof is in the votes (starting with the most recent and counting backwards): Senate Environmental Quality 6-0; Senate Transportation and Housing 7-0; Assembly Floor 72-7; Assembly Appropriations 18-2; Assembly Transportation 18-0. The organizations above are just some of the supporters of AB 2222.
CALL TO ACTION! AB 2222, authored by Asm. Chris Holden (D-Pasadena), was put on suspense in Senate Appropriations Monday, and a decision whether to take it off suspense so that it can continue to move forward this session will be made tomorrow — Thursday, Aug. 11. The decision will be made by the Appropriations Committee and its chair, Sen. Richardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens), and will also involve Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon. If we want AB 2222 to continue moving forward it's key that we reach out and urge Senate Appropriations Committee members to support student passes.
The members are: Senator Ricardo Lara (Chair) (D-Bell Gardens) 916-651-4033 ° Senator Patricia Bates (Vice Chair) (R-Laguna Niguel) 916-651-4036 ° Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose) 916 651-4015 ° Senator Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo) 916-651-4013 ° Senator Mike McGuire (D-Healdsburg) 916-651-4902 ° Senator Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia) 916-651-4032 ° Senator Jim Nielsen (R-Gerber) 916-651-4004
Also: Senate President Pro Tem Kevin De Leon (D-Los Angeles) 916-651-4024.
Please call all committee members and Senator De Leon if you can. Tell the person who answers the phone that AB 2222 was up in committee on Monday and that you urge the senator to support the bill, which would create a statewide discounted student transit pass program for K-12 and public college and university students. They will ask you for your name and that’s it!
The funding source for AB 2222 had been $50M/year from the GHG Reduction Fund, but this language was removed from the bill because the future of the GGRF and the Cap & Trade program that funds it have become somewhat uncertain given the lawsuit against and opposition to Cap & Trade.
However, it appears the chairs of the Senate and Assembly transportation committees, Senator Jim Beall (D-San Jose) and Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Oakley)—who have been trying to pass transportation funding bills for a year!—may be reaching agreement on a funding source. There is a possibility that given the broad bipartisan support for AB 2222 that this money could fund student transit passes too!!
Call Gloria Ohland at Move LA (a co-sponsor of AB2222) if you have questions: 213-304-0444