Area Republicans have plans for new legislative session



Chico area State Sen. Jim Nielsen and Assemblyman James Gallagher have both been sworn into their positions for the 2019 California legislative session. While both the Senate and Assembly are overwhelmingly Democratic, the Republican lawmakers have plans to introduce bills they hope will get bipartisan support.

Nielsen was sworn in for a new four-year term after winning the November election with  57 percent of the vote.  He promises that in this term he will “continue to keep a watchful eye on the state budget, and monitor how taxpayers’ monies are spent.”

Gallagher has been in the Assembly since 2014. His top priorities going into the 2019 session are reducing the cost of in-state living, ensuring the infrastructure residents rely on is properly funded and focusing on improving public safety policies.

“We have a few bills so far,” said Braden Pisani, Gallagher's field rep. “We have two for Paradise, one for funding the government and another for electronic reporting of campaign finances for upcoming elections. We’re also looking to do some for CTE funding and regulation.” 

Flood Protection
Gallagher hopes to increase water storage and flood protection for the district, promising during his campaign to ensure that local projects throughout the district get completed before his term is over.

Obamacare
Gallagher said he wants to restore doctor-patient relations by repealing Obamacare and focusing on a long-term solution for healthcare. Without a repeal, he said, people will “be subject to the whims of a government-controlled system instead of being able to individually manage their own healthcare needs,” according to his campaign statement.

Paradise relief
After the recent fire in Paradise left the town in shambles, district representatives are turning their focus on measures that will help its restoration. Gallagher has been meeting with business owners from Paradise to talk about recovery efforts and what their best options are. He hopes to help push bills that further the reconstruction of Paradise, stating that his first order of business is to aid the Butte County families who have suffered.

Nielsen has stated that his policies for this upcoming session “remain focused on public safety, budget control and representing his constituents.” 

Dam safety

Nielsen is shifting his focus to following up on the Oroville Dam crisis and holding the state Department of Water accountable for what happened. He is also one of the main supporters of a plan to create an oversight committee to provide inspections for dams, reservoirs and other structures in the area that need to be kept up to code for public safety.

Gun Control

Nielsen has recently abstained from voting on a current measure to pass gun-control laws in California. He calls the measures a “money grab” and considers it unnecessary. He said he believes it’s time to take away gun rights from criminals once they get sentenced and he considers himself an “ardent and passionate opponent of bills that put bureaucratic roadblocks in the way of law-abiding gun owners.”

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