April 22, 2008

The 10th anniversary of Catholic Lobby Day will be held April 22, 2008 in Sacramento. Topics for the day include Faithful Citizenship , a retrospective look at an historic 10 years, and briefings on major legislation of concern to Catholics.

After a celebration of the Eucharist and a Capitol steps rally, hundreds of Catholics will meet their legislators to lobby bills and discuss state budget priorities.

Registration Form: To register for the 10th Annual Catholic Lobby Day download , print, fill-out, and mail along with your $5.00 registration fee to:

Linda Wanner
California Catholic Conference
1119 K Street, 2nd Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814

Four main issues will be discussed this year, and many dioceses will add pressing local topics to their meetings:

Budget: Nothing is more important in California politics this year, and much of what would be in a normal legislative session is absent from the Capitol. Budget discussions will focus on attempts to prevent removal of children from state assistance, continued support of the Naturalization Services Program (NSP), stopping the repeated elimination of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for the aged and disabled, and carefully considering proposed cuts to education.

Download Backgrounder: English | Spanish

 

AB 2262 by Assembly Member Alberto Torrico is a bill that modifies a 2001 law which allows a distraught parent to voluntarily surrender the physical custody of a newborn child to a hospital or another appropriately designated location. Torrico's bill increases the time period from 72 hours to one week. Two similar bills passed in 2006 and in 2007. Both were vetoed by the Governor because he believed irreparable harm could occur to the child if left longer than 72 hours in unsafe circumstances. The CCC disagrees, pointing out that a seven-day old baby, even if mistreated, could be saved from death or prolonged child abuse if a longer surrender option is available.

 

Download Backgrounder: English | Spanish

 

AB 2844 by Assemblyman John Laird (D-Santa Cruz) would extend from three months to six months the recertification interval for food stamp recipients. Taking a day off work every three months is too much for many people. California is notorious for its under use of food stamps, in part, because of such severe registration restrictions.

 

Download Backgrounder: English | Spanish

 

SB 1555 by Senator Sheila Keuhl (D-Santa Monica) which would require the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide certain services to inmates who are over 55.

 

Download Backgrounder: English | Spanish

 

AB 2747 by Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Eureka) mandates that a terminally ill patient who receives a prognosis of one year or less to live is provided information and counseling regarding legal end of life options. Among the options available would be VSED (voluntary stopping of eating and drinking) and Palliative Sedation (making patient unconscious while withholding artificial food and hydration).

 

Download Backgrounder: English | Spanish