California Senate Republicans voice support for Jewish Caucus members amid war in Gaza

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SENATE REPUBLICANS WRITE LETTER OF SUPPORT TO JEWISH CAUCUS

Senate Republicans wrote a letter to the Jewish Legislative Caucus, responding to the Jewish lawmakers’ request for “support and solidarity at an unprecedented moment of pain and fear for our Jewish community” after Hamas attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7.

“Since the attack, the Jewish community has been enduring not only the profound loss of life in Israel, but also facing an alarming surge in antisemitic incidents here in America,” Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R- San Diego, and seven fellow Senators wrote in response.

“From college campuses, to attacks at pro-Israel rallies, to bomb threats at synagogues, the spread of hate and anti-Semitism must be immediately condemned and stopped.”

Republicans are “ready to collaborate” with the Jewish Caucus, they said.

The Jewish Caucus wrote to Republicans on January 3, the day the Legislature returned to session after a holiday break, prompting the GOP letter Monday.

That same day, hundreds of activists with Jews for Peace demonstrated at the Capitol and disrupted the Assembly to call for a cease-fire in Gaza. More than 25,000 Palestinians have died since Israel began its counterattack last year, after Hamas killed over 1,100 people and took around 250 others hostage.

VP HARRIS KICKS OFF REPRO JUSTICE TOUR IN WISCONSIN, WILL VISIT HOME STATE

Via Gillian Brassil...

Vice President Kamala Harris, the White House’s chief advocate in the crusade to protect abortion rights, kicked off her Reproductive Freedoms Tour in Wisconsin on Monday by commemorating the 51st anniversary of the now-overturned Supreme Court decision setting federal abortion rights.

The decision, Roe v. Wade, was released Jan. 22, 1973. The Supreme Court decided in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization on June 24, 2022, to overturn the precedent, allowing states to pass laws restricting abortion access.

California passed a slate of laws to bolster abortion access, including for people crossing state lines to receive care. In November 2022, voters approved Proposition 1 to add abortion and contraceptive rights to California’s Constitution. It’s one of seven states where voters chose to enshrine abortion rights via ballot referenda since the court released the Dobbs ruling.

Abortion appeared pivotal in the 2022 midterm elections around the country, and Democrats are banking on it being important again in 2024. Analysts and Republicans were expecting a “red wave” to take control of the House of Representatives in 2022 but squeezed out a slim majority in the wake of the Dobbs decision.

Wisconsin is a key swing state where President Joe Biden and Harris are hoping to beat former President Donald Trump, who is leading to be the Republican nominee. Harris chastised Trump’s comments claiming credit for the overturning of Roe.

“Proud that women across our nation are suffering?” said Harris, a former California attorney general and U.S. senator. “Proud that women have been robbed of a fundamental freedom? Proud that doctors could be thrown in prison for caring for their patients, that young women today have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers?”

Said Harris, “How dare he.”

Harris plans to visit her home state this week.

On Wednesday she will visit Southern California, and on Thursday she’ll be in Sacramento for the California State Legislature Democratic Caucus Reception.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“This week marks one year since two devastating mass shootings in California — in Monterey Park & Half Moon Bay.We have a tidal wave of guns in this country. Until the federal government takes firm action to limit this tidal wave, mass shootings will continue.”

- State Sen. Scott Wiener, via Threads

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ALL THINGS STATE WORKER...

Multiple California state agencies have called employees back to the office, and more will likely follow. What are unions saying? How much will this cost employees, as well as the state? And is there any way to avoid the dreaded commute to the office?

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