Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

I am pleased to announce that my legislation, Senate Bill 839, known as "Blue Alert," passed the Assembly Public Safety Committee this week.

The proposed Blue Alert bill would use the existing statewide Amber Alert notification system when a peace officer has been killed, seriously wounded or assaulted with a firearm and the suspect has fled the scene.

It would serve the same function as the highly successful Amber Alert - specifically, it would quickly and effectively get many pairs of eyes looking for a criminal who assaults a peace officer.

As the Amber Alert system has demonstrated time and again throughout the United States, a quick response is vital.

Investigators could immediately broadcast information through the Emergency Broadcast System on television and radio and on the freeway signs to alert the public.

Runner said while many crime categories declined in 2009, the murder of peace officers increased by more than 25 percent nationally.

Part of this disturbing trend was the killing of 15 officers in just 5 incidents. In California, four officers were killed in Oakland and six in Seattle last year.

Blue Alert is supported by the California State Sheriffs' Association, which represents all 58 California county sheriffs and several other statewide law enforcement agencies.

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The following article is authored by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers' Association:

New Senate Democrat budget plan is a direct assault on Proposition 13

Rather than taking responsibility for their own out-of-control Tax-and-Spend habits, Senate Democrats today once again blamed Proposition 13 for California's woes as they proposed massive tax increases on Californians, under the guise of shifting the money to provide local services. The proposed plan would increase either oil severance tax or sales taxes via a majority vote. Removing tax breaks for struggling businesses and making permanent last year's .5% increase in the car tax round out the increases.

HJTA President Jon Coupal commented that the Senate plan represents more of the same from the majority party.

"Democrats have yet to learn that attacking Proposition 13 using a majority vote is a non-starter both with California taxpayers and in the courts," said Coupal. "Rather than continuing to use this landmark proposition as a scapegoat for their fiscal ineptitude, the leaders should figure out how to use $88 billion in General Fund revenue to serve the most people without raising taxes during these tough economic times."

Coupal went on to comment that taxes should be off the table during this time of economic recession: "What message does an oil severance or car tax send to our drivers who don't want to see gas prices increase because they need to get to work? What message does a sales tax increase send to the struggling retail community? What message does a repeal of business tax relief send to companies looking to invest or stay in California? Taxpayers deserve a better plan then higher taxes hiding behind a facade of increased local control."