Leland Yee finishes term, touts legislative success
10.14.06 - Posted by AsiansVote
California Assemblyman Leland Yee hit my radar a few months ago when he slammed Sony for a repulsive, racially charged ad it ran in Europe. At the time, I was thrilled to see an Asian American politician taking the forefront in fighting racism against another minority group. That's the kind of coalition building we need among progressives and minority groups.
Yee's office recently issued a press release touting his accomplishments during the past four years. And it's great to see that Yee's been fighting the good fight on many fronts. Here are some key excerpts from the press release:
During his four year tenure in the Assembly, Yee successfully passed 64 bills through the Legislature, 48 of which were signed into law by Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) or Gray Davis (D-Los Angeles).
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“I am proud of the work we have been able to accomplish over the past four years, fighting for our children, mental health services, working families, the environment, and civil rights,” said Yee. “I look forward to continuing these efforts in the Legislature.”
Yee's legislation includes bills to protect freedom of speech for student journalists, provide incentives for mental health practicioners to work in under-served communities, probit sales of ultra-violent video games to minors, limit gay-baiting in political campaigns, and increase production of renewable energy. Altogether, it's an impressive list of legislation which helps hammer home the notion that progressive values make for smart, effective, humane, and family-friendly government.
Yee is now running as the Democratic candidate in District 8 for the California State Senate. It'll be interesting to see where he goes next.
Click here for Yee's website. And read on for the official press release regarding Yee's Assembly term:
Yee Completes Tenure in Assembly
Yee finishes term passing 64 bills through State Legislature, 48 signed into law
SACRAMENTO – While Assemblymember Leland Yee (D-San Francisco/Daly City) has not yet officially ended his State Assembly term, he effectively completed his tenure in the lower house last week with his final Assembly bills signed into law. Yee’s term officially ends in December when he is expected to be sworn in to the State Senate, becoming the first Chinese American ever to serve in the upper house in the 156 year history of California.
“Speaker pro Tem Yee has been a large part of the reason that this house operates with civility,” said Speaker Fabian Núñez (D-Los Angeles). “When he’s not on the podium, Dr. Yee has one of the best track records in getting his bills passed and signed into law.”
During his four year tenure in the Assembly, Yee successfully passed 64 bills through the Legislature, 48 of which were signed into law by Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-Los Angeles) or Gray Davis (D-Los Angeles).
Yee’s most notable legislation includes AB 1179 (2005), a law to protect children from the harmful effects of ultra-violent video games by prohibiting such sales to minors. The bill is currently on hold as a result of an industry lawsuit against the State. Other major legislative accomplishments by Yee include, AB 3042 (2004) to help protect children from being exploited through prostitution by adding new penalties for adult offenders; AB 800 (2005) to guarantee a patient’s spoken language is included in his/her medical records; AJR 14 (2005) officially declaring California’s opposition to any weakening of the federal offshore oil drilling moratorium; AB 938 (2003) offering incentives to mental health practitioners working in medically under-served communities; AB 792 (2003) to help prevent predatory towing.
Most recently, Yee authored AB 2581, making California the first state in the nation to specifically prohibit censorship of college student press, including school newspapers and broadcast journalism. Additionally in 2006, Yee passed AB 450 to require disaster preparedness agencies to consider household pets, service animals, equines, and livestock in emergency evacuation planning; AB 1969 to increase the production of renewable energy in California by allowing water and wastewater agencies to sell environmentally-friendly energy – such as small hydro, solar, and biogas – produced by their treatment and delivery facilities to electrical companies, resulting in up to 250 new megawatts of energy into the state’s grid; and AB 1207 to help end discrimination against the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) community during campaigns by prohibiting the use of any negative appeal based on prejudice of sexual orientation or gender identity by candidates or campaign committees who sign the voluntary pledge provided for in the Code of Fair Campaign Practices.
“I am proud of the work we have been able to accomplish over the past four years, fighting for our children, mental health services, working families, the environment, and civil rights,” said Yee. “I look forward to continuing these efforts in the Legislature.”
During his Assembly term, Yee has been named “Legislator of the Year” by a number of organizations, including the California Association of School Psychologists, California School Nutrition Association, California Psychiatric Association, Faculty Association of California Community Colleges, and California Mental Health Directors Association. In addition, he was name the “2005 Person of the Year” by GamePolitics.com, a leading video game news site.
In his first year in the Legislature, Yee was appointed to the Speaker’s leadership team as the Assistant Speaker pro Tempore. In 2004, he became the first Asian Pacific American to be appointed Speaker pro Tempore, the number two position in the California State Assembly, a position he held for three years. In 2004, Yee was also elected President of the National Asian Pacific American Caucus of State Legislators.
10.14.06 |
Candidates & Leaders
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Leland Yee
