California State Legislators Endorse Barack Obama

California state legislators including Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero, the highest-ranking woman in the legislature, and Karen Bass, the Assembly Majority Leader, gathered at the State Capitol to express their support for Barack Obama.

I tooks some video of the event and uploaded it to YouTube. The press release that includes all the endorsing legislatures is appended below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 28, 2008

CONTACT: Debbie Mesloh, CA Director of Communications, 323-854-8609, dmesloh@barackobama.com

State Legislators Say Obama is Candidate To Bring Change to Washington D.C.

Highest Ranking Women State Legislators and Legislative Colleagues Speak in Support of Senator Obama

SACRAMENTO – At a press conference on the North Steps of the State Capitol today, state legislators from across California met to discuss their support for Senator Obama and explain why they believe he will be the president to bring change we can believe in to Washington D.C. The highest ranking female state legislators, California Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero and Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass were joined by their colleagues to urge California Democrats and ‘Decline to State’ voters to support Senator Obama in the February 5 primary.

“Barack Obama is the one candidate who can bring Californians and Americans together around an agenda that can help struggling families pay the bills, keep their homes, afford health care, and find good jobs with decent wages,” said Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero. “He is more interested in solving problems than scoring political points, because that’s the only way we’re going to change the divisive, negative politics in Washington and actually make progress on the issues that matter to the American people like the economy and health care.”

“Poll after poll shows that Senator Barack Obama is the most electable Democrat because he can unite Democrats, Independents, and Republicans like no other candidate in this race,” said Assemblyman Ted Lieu. “He'll help Democrats get elected all across the country - especially in conservative areas where Democrats have not fared well for decades. At this defining moment in our history, we need to nominate a candidate who can build the majority necessary to become President.”

State legislators who have officially endorsed Senator Obama include:

Senate Majority Leader Gloria Romero (SD24)

Senator Elaine Alquist (SD13)

Senator Gilbert Cedillo (SD22)

Senator Dean Florez (SD16)

Senator Alan Lowenthal (SD27)

Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas (SD26), chair of the Black Caucus

Senator Jack Scott (SD21)

Senator Darrell Steinberg (SD6)

Assembly Majority Leader Karen Bass (AD47)

Assemblymember Joe Coto (AD23), chair of the Latino Caucus

Assemblymember Mike Davis (AD48)

Assemblymember Jared Huffman (AD6)

Assemblymember Ted Lieu (AD53), chair of Asian Pacific Islander Caucus.

Assemblymember Gene Mullin (AD19)

Assemblymember Nicole Parra (AD30)

Assemblymember Curren Price (AD51)

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CA Assembly leader Karen Bass touts Obama

From the official barackobama.com site, California Assembly leader Karen Bass tells why she is supporting Barack Obama:

I have spent the last 30 years working to improve the quality of life for people throughout California. As a social justice activist, I’ve worked to bridge disparity gaps by developing and implementing solutions to make a difference. Over the years, one of my main goals was to ensure that every voice is heard, especially those from the most vulnerable communities.

When I was just a teenager, I got involved in community organizing and from then it became a major part of my personal and professional life. As a physician assistant at the nation’s largest trauma center I witnessed first-hand the despair and violence unleashed by the crack cocaine epidemic. I used my organizing experience to found the Community Coalition, a direct response to the devastation of the drug epidemic . Today, the organization is recognized as a national model for grassroots organizing and a center for training the next generation of social justice activists and leaders.

After 13 years of leading the Community Coalition, I took state office representing the 47th Assembly District. Last year, I was appointed the Majority Leader for the California State Assembly during the 2007-2008 legislative session, making me the first African American and the first woman to hold this leadership position.

As an elected official, community leader and a social activist, I did not hesitate to endorse Senator Barack Obama. As a community activist, he helped build coalitions to empower residents to fight for change. As a state legislator, he worked with law enforcement to pass a law that required interrogations and confessions in all capital cases to be video tapped after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent. He has a proven commitment to education and working families.

As a Senator, he has shown true leadership while dealing with our country’s domestic and foreign policy concerns. He has consistently opposed the war in Iraq. He is the candidate who will end the war as well as ensure that the country uses those wasted funds to address poverty issues throughout the nation.

I am confident that he will inspire thousands of new voters to go to the polls because we are all ready for change. Senator Obama reminds all of us that hope can move us forward. I am proud to serve on the Obama for America National Diversity Advisory Council and as the chair of the California African Americans for Obama Campaign. And I am thrilled to be a part of the Women for Obama Campaign.

Majority Leader Karen Bass

California State Assembly