Did you know there is a PRO CRIME CAUCUS in the State Assembly? On a recent bill to make penalties harder for shoplifting, 32 DEMOCRATS refuse to vote. While the bill passed, we now know that 32 Democrats vote for the criminals.
“The bill, which would make it easier to arrest shoplifters, is a recent example of a pattern CalMatters revealed in April with legislators dodging votes to avoid offending the bill’s supporters or to eliminate a record of their opposition on controversial topics.
Assembly Bill 1990 passed the Assembly 44-1 last week with 35 lawmakers not casting a vote including 32 of the 62 Democrats and the Assembly speaker, Robert Rivas. Some of those not voting had excused absences, but the Legislature’s online record does not distinguish between an absence, an abstention or not voting.
That pro-crime caucus included the Assembly Speaker, Robert Rivas—the Assembly Democrats are lead by criminal supporters.
Anti-Shoplifting Bill Passes California Assembly with Most Democrats Not Voting
by Ryan Sabalow • Times of San Diego, CalMatters, 5/31/24 https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2024/06/01/anti-shoplifting-bill-passes-california-assembly-with-most-democrats-not-voting/
Assemblymember Ash Kalra did something exceptional last month.
He was the only legislator to vote “no” on a controversial piece of legislation while nearly half of the 80 members in the state Assembly — and a majority of the Democrats — did not vote.
The bill, which would make it easier to arrest shoplifters, is a recent example of a pattern CalMatters revealed in April with legislators dodging votes to avoid offending the bill’s supporters or to eliminate a record of their opposition on controversial topics.
Assembly Bill 1990 passed the Assembly 44-1 last week with 35 lawmakers not casting a vote including 32 of the 62 Democrats and the Assembly speaker, Robert Rivas. Some of those not voting had excused absences, but the Legislature’s online record does not distinguish between an absence, an abstention or not voting.
The bill would allow police to make an arrest for shoplifting without a warrant, even if they did not witness the crime. Los Angeles Assemblywoman Wendy Carillo, who authored the bill with five Democratic and two Republican coauthors, said it is “in response to the alarming escalation of organized retail theft,” which has become a hot-button political issue.
But progressive Democrats, leery of increasing incarceration rates for minor offenses, were uncomfortable with the bill.
“Let’s be clear: AB 1990 will not stop retail theft,” Assemblymember Tina McKinnor, a Democrat from Inglewood, told her colleagues. “AB 1990 will increase the unnecessary harassment, detention, arrest and mass incarceration of Black and brown Californians.”
She concluded her speech: “I am asking all of you to please vote ‘no’ on AB 1990.”
McKinnor, however, did not vote on the bill.
Her office did not respond to CalMatters’ request for an explanation about why she did not vote despite her clear opposition.
Kalra, of San Jose, also did not respond to a request from CalMatters to explain why he cast the lone “no” vote.
Arresting shoplifters has never been a problem. Prosecuting and penalizing them is the problem. Why arrest someone and do all the required paperwork just to see them back on the street before the paperwork is finished.