MOMS

Randy Voepel

This bill repeals the requirement that the state preserve all applications for mail ballots for 22 months following the date of federal elections, and 6 months from the date of state and local elections. Additionally, election officials are now required to also send a "second ballot" via mail to a "voter representative" upon written request by a voter. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill promotes ballot harvesting as well as weakens safeguards to prevent voter fraud.   Such safeguards against fraud are critical to ensuring free and fair elections, an essential component of democracy under our nation's constitutional republic.

Weakening Election Integrity by Ending the Preservation of Vote by Mail Applications and Expanding Recipients of "Second" Mailed Ballots.

This bill prevents the Medical Board of California from suspending or revoking the license of medical professionals who has been punished by another state for performing an illegal abortion. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill obstructs the ability for states to hold abortionists accountable for performing illegal abortions. All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Preventing the Medical Board of California from Taking Disciplinary Action Against Physicians Who Performed Illegal Abortions in Other States.

This bill provides a refundable tax credit of up to $100 for dues paid to a labor union, with a total of up to $400 million in allowable credits. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as taxpayers should not be forced to pay labor union dues and further enrich union bosses. Measures such as this highlight the importance of "Right to Work" legislation, which protects the ability of individuals to work without joining a labor union.

Forcing Taxpayers to Pay $400 Million in Dues to Labor Unions for their Members.

This bill places a 6-month limit on the amount of time a juvenile offender may be placed on probation except in limited cases. Additionally, the court is no longer required to place certain conditions on juvenile probation such as attending counseling, repairing property, performing community service or repaying apprehension costs. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill limits the ability of courts to maintain public safety and protect property rights. This measure is especially troubling considering the enactment of other changes to the criminal justice system which have loosened penalties and led to rising crime rates.

Increasing Crime and Harming Public Safety by Placing a 6 Month Limit on Juvenile Probation.

This bill prohibits all California law enforcement agencies from cooperating with, or providing information to any out-of-state agency attempting to apprehend an individual who performed an illegal abortion. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill obstructs the ability for law enforcement to hold abortionists accountable for performing illegal abortions. All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Harboring Individuals who Performed Illegal Abortions by Prohibiting Law Enforcement Cooperation with Out-of-State Authorities.

The "Small Business Procurement and Contract Act" establishes a 25% small business target for infrastructure contracts issued through the $14 billion the state received under the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as all government contracting and procurement decisions should be based strictly on factors relating to cost and quality. Contracting quotas and mandates such as this bill merely restrict competition and unnecessarily drive-up taxpayer costs, while also potentially reducing project quality and timeliness.

Hiking Taxpayer Costs through an Additional Small Business Procurement Mandate for Infrastructure Projects.

This bill establishes the California Reproductive Health Service Corps "for the purposes of recruiting, training, and retaining a diverse workforce of reproductive health care professionals in underserved areas." The bill directs funding towards scholarships, stipends for living expenses and childcare, and loan repayment for providers who work at a "corps-approved site". Oppose is the Moms for America Position as taxpayers should not fund scholarships or loan repayments for any industry, let alone an industry which faces strong opposition by a significant portion of the population.

Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Scholarships and Training for Abortion Providers by Establishing the "California Reproductive Health Service Corps".

This bill is largely in response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen, which found the use of arbitrary "may issue" standards for concealed carry licenses to be unconstitutional. Under the bill, "gun free zones" are significantly expanded - including all private businesses by default unless they post a sign saying it is permitted. Additionally, concealed carry training requirements and costs are increased, among a number of other provisions. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure serves to undermine the Supreme Court's decision and limits the ability of law-abiding individuals to defend themselves from criminals.

Infringing Second Amendment Rights and Defying the Supreme Court Ruling through New "Gun Free" Zones and Concealed Carry Law Changes.

This bill requires consultation of the "California Healthy Places Index" when determining freeway expansion projects. According to the sponsor, the bill is designed to end "systemic racism" resulting from freeway expansion projects in low-income communities of color. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this politicized measure will merely increase travel and commute times across the state, while further driving up taxpayer costs and delays in critical infrastructure projects.

Blocking Infrastructure and Freeway Expansions to Prevent "Racist Roadways".

This bill prevents the California court system from enforcing or satisfying civil judgements from individuals or entities that run contrary to state law concerning receiving or inducing an abortion. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill obstructs the ability for individuals to hold abortionists accountable for performing illegal abortions. All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Making California a "Sanctuary State for Abortion" by Prohibiting Enforcement of Civil Actions by Individuals or Entities from Other States.

This bill further expands the reporting requirement placed on employers which requires them to disclose pay rates by job category according to race, sex and ethnicity. Now employers must publish their pay scales and employers with 100 or more contractors must also disclose this information for their contracted workers. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this further government intrusion into the marketplace infringes confidential employer and worker contracting rights, while also subjecting employer to additional public harassment.

Subjecting Employers to Further Harassment by Expanding the State's Pay Data Reporting Mandate to Include Contractors and Pay Publishing.

The "Digital Financial Assets Law" creates a new licensing and regulatory framework for digital financial assets under the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation. A range of products including cryptocurrencies, virtual currencies and electronic precious metals would now be subject to state regulation. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as the federal government is already attempting to regulate these products, and there is a serious risk that regulations imposed at any level government could threaten innovation within this industry. It is critical to protect this industry from overregulation as bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies play a crucial role as a safeguard against the reckless policies of the Federal Reserve.

Threatening Innovation by Imposing a New Licensing Regime on a Range of Digital and Crypto Financial Assets.

This bill establishes a new pilot program within the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHSA) which provides additional taxpayer funding to primary care clinics that perform abortion and are located in five counties across different regions of the state. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as it is not the role of government to promote abortion and force payment from taxpayers to advance abortion (many of whom may have strong religious objections).

Channeling Tens of Millions of Additional Taxpayer Funds to Providers of Abortion in "Marginalized Communities".

This bill requires a ballot drop-off location be placed on each California State University Campus in addition to the other locations required by law. Additionally, when selecting drop-off locations across the state, the bill requires election officials to prioritize community college locations. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill politicizes the placement of ballot drop-off locations due to the very high levels of voting amongst college-age voters for a particular political party. While the state should eliminate all drop boxes, such placement should at least be based on population and determined in a non-politicized manner to ensure free and fair elections.

Weakening Election Integrity through the Politicized Placement of Ballot Drop Boxes Across All State University Campuses.

This bill expands legal aid eligibility under the Sargent Civil Counsel Act to now include individuals who may be residing in the country unlawfully. Taxpayer funded aid that is provided under this act includes certain civil, housing-related, guardianships, and domestic violence related matters.  Oppose is the Moms for America Position as it is not the role of government to guarantee taxpayer-funded legal counsel in civil matters - especially for individuals who are residing in the country illegally. Measures such as this merely further incentive illegal immigration.

Expanding Taxpayer-Funded Legal Aid Programs to Illegal Immigrants.

The "Buy American Food Act" places more stringent domestic procurement requirements on California public schools and universities concerning their agricultural food purchases. Previous law required institutions to procure only domestically grown and processed foods unless the cost was greater than 5% of the non-domestic alternative. This bill now requires the non-domestic alternative to be at least 25% more costly, which is estimated to cost taxpayers an additional $1.9 billion. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill is largely designed to enrich California agricultural producers and labor unions, while unnecessarily punishing taxpayers who will be forced to bear the higher costs. The bill also directly violates the limited government principles of free trade and markets.

Increasing Taxpayer Costs by Worsening Protectionist Agricultural Procurement Mandates Placed on Schools and Universities.

This bill further boosts payouts under the state's Paid Family Leave (PFL) program, which is funded through an additional 1.1% payroll tax on most workers. Specifically, the bill increases the wage replacement rate from 70% to 90% for workers who earn up to $57,000 a year. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill will inevitably lead to a further increase in the state payroll tax due to the higher payout and greater incentive for individuals to utilize the benefit. Instead of further growing this state wealth transfer initiative, lawmakers should eliminate the program and allow individuals to choose whether or not to purchase paid leave insurance through the private marketplace.

Further Expanding Wealth Redistribution Under the State's Paid Leave Program by Hiking the Wage Replacement Rate to 90%.

This bill requires the California Health and Human Services Agency to establish a website providing various abortion related information.  Such information includes the locations of abortion providers, available practical support services like airfare, lodging, meals, etc., and payment support resources. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as it is not the role of government to promote abortion and force payment from taxpayers to advance abortion (many of whom may have strong religious objections). All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Promoting Abortion through the Creation of a State Website to Provide Information on Abortion Providers and How to Obtain Support Services Such as Airfare, Meals and Lodging.

The "Firearm Industry Responsibility Act" prohibits a firearm manufacture from manufacturing or marketing a product that is "abnormally dangerous and likely to create an unreasonable risk of harm to public health and safety in California". Additionally, the bill allows individuals to sue a manufacturer for any actions or failure by their distributors to comply with state law if the individual suffers damages from the misuse of a firearm. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as James Madison and our nation's other founding fathers understood that the right to keep and bear arms is a crucial individual liberty and protects the citizenry against a tyrannical government. This measure is primarily designed to drive firearm manufacturers out of business through an attempt to advance a gun-control agenda.

Attempting to Force Firearm Manufacturers Out of Business by Exposing them to Frivolous and Costly Litigation.

Beginning in 2024, this bill requires all children to attend kindergarten prior to entering first grade, which was previously optional. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill removes decision making from parents, who are best equipped to make decisions regarding their child's education.

Weakening Parental Rights by Mandating Kindergarten Attendance for All Children.

This bill eliminates provisions within the law which require the coroner to investigate certain fetal deaths. The bill also prohibits the use of the coroner's statements on the death certificate from being used for a criminal prosecution. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as the state should not eliminate critical safeguards which protect newly born children from being murdered under the guise of the tragedy of abortion.

Covering Up Infanticide by Prohibiting Coroner Investigations of Fetal Deaths.

The "California Climate Crisis Act" legally binds the state to its goal of "net-zero" carbon by 2045, and maintain and achieve negative greenhouse gas emissions in the years following. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill further cements the state to its disastrous environmental agenda, which will stifle economic growth and lead to sky-rocketing prices for businesses and consumers.

Stifling Economic Growth by Codifying the State's Disastrous 2045 "Net-Zero" Carbon Goal.

This bill requires the California Air Resource Board (CARB) to adopt much more stringent reductions in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions. Under the bill, the state's GHG emissions must be reduced at least 55% (previously 40%) below 1990 levels by 2030. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this stringent mandate will have dire consequences on economic and business growth, which will ultimately be felt by consumers nationwide through higher product prices.

Placing Enormous New Costs on Businesses and Consumers by Mandating a 55% (Previously 40%) Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030.

This constitutional amendment establishes new fundamental rights to choose to have an abortion and utilize contraceptives. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as all abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life. Furthermore, this amendment may force religious medical entities to violate their sincerely held beliefs.

Taking the Lives of the Unborn through a Constitutional Amendment Declaring a "Right" to Abortion.

This bill requires county and regional transportation agencies to prioritize transportation projects based on adherence to Sustainable Communities Strategies (SCS) and the state's climate goals. Additionally, the agencies are prohibited from funding any project that is determined to be inconsistent with the most recent SCS or climate goal by the Air Resource Board. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill will result in greater traffic and commute times for Californians by hindering infrastructure expansion while also unnecessarily driving up transportation project costs for taxpayers.

Harming the Transportation Sector by Basing Infrastructure Funding and Prioritization on Advancing Climate Goals.

This bill imposes new reporting requirements on healthcare insurers regarding the amount of money collected and expended within their segregated accounts to pay for abortion services. Under existing state law, all health insurers must collect $1 per enrollee per month specifically for abortion services. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill likely serves as a new tool to advocate for increased funding and expenditures for abortion services. All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Funneling More Funds to Abortion by Imposing New Reporting Requirements on the $1 Monthly Abortion Surcharge on all Healthcare Plans.

The "Platform Accountability and Transparency Act" requires social media to publicly disclose how their algorithms push information. This includes statistics on items of content that violated their platform policies and were recommended or amplified through their algorithms.  According to the bill's sponsor, the measure is needed to bring transparency to medical disinformation, such as during the COVID-19 pandemic. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this government overreach into the private sector places significant financial and regulatory costs onto the tech industry, which is ultimately passed down to consumers.  Except in cases of fraud or criminal activity, industries are best governed through free market principles whereby consumers hold private companies accountable.

Expanding the Regulatory State by Placing Costly New Reporting Mandates on Social Media Companies Concerning Content Policy Violations

This bill requires the Medical Board of California, Board of Registered Nursing and other boards to expedite the license application for applicants who demonstrate they intend to perform abortions. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill incentives medical professionals to take the lives of the unborn while delaying the process for all other healthcare providers. All abortions are tragedies and every child deserves the right to life.

Incentivizing Abortion by Expediting State Licensure of Doctors and Nurses who Intend to take the Lives of the Unborn.

This bill establishes the "Excluded Workers Pilot Program" which provides illegal immigrants with up to 20 weeks of unemployment benefits, at an amount of $300 per week. The bill is estimated to cost state taxpayers $237 million to build out and over $215 million in annual benefit payouts. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as providing individuals who entered the country unlawfully to taxpayer funded welfare benefits merely incentivizes additional illegal immigration. While reforms are needed to the U.S. immigration system to increase the number of skilled individuals who may enter and work in our country, measures such as this undermine reform efforts and plunge taxpayers into further debt.

Forcing Taxpayers to Spend Hundreds of Millions Annually to Provide Unemployment Benefits to Illegal Immigrants.

This bill prohibits construction of any new oil or gas wells within 3,200 feet of a "sensitive receptor" which includes everything from homes, schools, hospitals, and businesses. Additionally, the bill requires existing wells in those areas to comply with additional light, sound and environmental regulations. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill will significantly reduce oil and gas extraction in the state, ultimately harming American energy production and the U.S. economy.

Limiting American Energy Production Through New Draconian Restrictions on Oil and Gas Well Placement.

The "California Antihunger Response Act of 2022" creates a new state program in which able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWD) are provided food stamp benefits despite not complying with the work requirements of CalFresh which are set by the federal government. The cost to create the new system (not accounting for benefit payouts) is estimated to cost $100 million. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill is intended to circumvent the federal work requirements implemented in the mid-1990s to help encourage able-bodied individuals to find employment and regain self-reliance. This bill places an unnecessary cost onto taxpayers while discouraging work-ready adults to become self-sufficient.

Spending $100 Million to Bypass a Critical Federal Welfare Integrity Measure and Provide Food Stamps to Work-Ready Adults who Refuse to Comply with Work Requirements.

This bill authorizes the State Air Resources Board every three years to review and increase the stringency of the state's cap-and-trade program for greenhouse gases. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as the state's cap-and-trade program already places enormous unnecessary costs on businesses. This measure will further worsen the situation by allowing unaccountable government employees within ARB to inflict even greater harm to the state's business climate.

Threatening Businesses with Higher Costs by Increasing the Stringency of the State's Cap-and-Trade Program.

This bill expands Family PACT (government-provided healthcare) to include prevention and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases for individuals who already may be insured and are not at risk of experiencing or causing an unintended pregnancy. The bill is primarily directed at LGBTQ individuals who may have confidentiality concerns using their insurance for treatment. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as this bill further grows government-provided healthcare and dependency while also estimated to place tens of millions of dollars of additional costs onto taxpayers.

Increasing Government Dependency by Providing STD Treatment to all LGBTQ Individuals at the Expense of Taxpayers.

This bill establishes the California Reproductive Health Equity Program, which provides no cost or reduced cost abortion services to women earning up to 400% of the federal poverty level. Additionally, the bill requires health insurers which provide plans without abortion coverage to religious employers, to provide written notice to those enrollees that they may be eligible for no cost abortions through the state program. Oppose is the Moms for America Position as regardless of ones view on abortion, it is not the role of government to provide such coverage and force the costs onto taxpayers, many of whom have deep religious objections to the practice.