Sen. Gaines announces new committee assignments

SACRAMENTO – Senator Ted Gaines (R–Rocklin) announced he has been appointed to serve as vice chairman of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee for the 2013-14 legislative session.

“I am honored to have been given these committee assignments in critical areas that affect the lives of all Californians,” said Gaines. “I will work hard to achieve bipartisan solutions to the important issues facing our state and defend the interests of hard-working taxpayers.”

The Environmental Quality Committee reviews legislation dealing with environmental quality, air quality, water quality, integrated waste management, toxics and hazardous waste. Senator Gaines plans to focus his time looking at necessary reforms of California’s environmental laws and regulations.

“For years I have been calling for reforms to the often-abused California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),” said Gaines. “With California’s unemployment rate still hovering at close to 10-percent, economic growth must be our number one priority. One of the best ways to accomplish that is through CEQA reform. While on the Environmental Quality Committee, I will advocate for reforms that allow job creation and businesses to flourish while protecting California’s beautiful natural environment.”

The Appropriations Committee is responsible for fiscal bills that are not referred to the Budget and Fiscal Review Committee, as well as bills that constitute a state-mandated local program.

“I take this responsibility very seriously and will work hard to make sure we are maintaining the people’s trust in their government by holding the Legislature financially accountable,” said Gaines. “Californians must be assured that their elected officials are enacting legislation that spends their hard-earned tax dollars in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Senator Gaines will remain in his posts as vice chairman of both the Senate Insurance Committee and the Transportation and Housing Committee. He is also a member of the Senate Public Employment and Retirement Committee.

Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento, Shasta, Sierra and Siskiyou counties.