On July 14^th there will be a Special Election for the 32^nd Congressional District. Democrat and Former Assemblywoman Judy Chu is seeking this seat. There she chaired the Budget Sub-Committee on Health and Human Services, while also negatively impacting legislation affecting the entire state from the Labor & Education, Environmental Services & Toxic Materials, Human Services, & Transportation committees.

While she alone did not cause this fiscal mess, she was a significant contributor to it. Her legislative record makes my point. For example:

In 2003, she introduced legislation (AB309) mandating businesses whose customers sign contracts (such as insurance companies) to provide written materials in languages other than just English and Spanish, instead of making the penalties against deceptive business practices more severe and enforceable.  This increased paper and printing costs for those businesses whether or not they have those sorts of customers. They passed these expenses onto their customers.

In 2006 she introduced legislation (AB1884) expanding Unemployment Insurance eligibility to union workers during certain labors disputes, instead of relying on union strike funds already collected from union members. Basically, she asked Californians to pay for Union strikes.

Fortunately, she is being challenged by popular Monterey Park City Councilmember and past Mayor Betty Chu, who lives within her means and has experience running a bank, a small business, and a city. She has a law degree and serves on the boards of numerous local charities and 2 schools.

One more Republican in the House, where Democrats don’t need Republican votes may not do much, but it will send a message in favor of fiscal responsibility, however electing Judy Chu means that every liberal bit hurts us that much more.