{"id":2048651,"date":"2023-09-28T19:46:02","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T23:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prioritize-saving-lives-over-raising-taxes-californians-deserve-better\/"},"modified":"2023-09-28T19:49:09","modified_gmt":"2023-09-28T23:49:09","slug":"prioritize-saving-lives-over-raising-taxes-californians-deserve-better","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prioritize-saving-lives-over-raising-taxes-californians-deserve-better\/","title":{"rendered":"Save lives first, not taxes\u2014Californians deserve more."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">14<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fprioritize-saving-lives-over-raising-taxes-californians-deserve-better%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2048651&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><blockquote>\n<h2>Commentary<\/h2>\n<p>If we were to \u2063take to the\u2062 streets of our districts and \u2064ask constituents\u200d what is more important for the State\u2064 Legislature \u200bto pass\u2014a bill that would make it easier to \u200draise people\u2019s taxes or a bill\u2062 that would help end \u2062the fentanyl crisis\u2014the answer would be obvious to\u2064 most.<\/p>\n<p>However, those in charge in Sacramento are prioritizing raising taxes over\u200d saving \u2064lives, and \u200cwe \u200bhave the receipts.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\" id=\"in_article_related_stories\">\n<h2 class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/h2>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-republicans-attempt-to-force-floor-vote-on-fentanyl-legislation-5487436?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>California Republicans Attempt to Force Floor Vote on Fentanyl Legislation<\/h3>\n<p>          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/6\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-republicans-attempt-to-force-floor-vote-on-fentanyl-legislation-5487436?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\">\n          <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-bill-may-add-3-to-25-years-for-fentanyl-offenses-5494515?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/p>\n<h3>California Bill May Add 3 to 25 Years\u2062 for Fentanyl \u200cOffenses<\/h3>\n<p>          <\/a>\n        <\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">9\/19\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\">\n        <a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-bill-may-add-3-to-25-years-for-fentanyl-offenses-5494515?ea_src=author_manual&#038;ea_med=related_stories\"><\/a>\n      <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Fentanyl \u2063is a poison. The\u200d phrase, \u201cOne Pill Can Kill\u201d is\u2062 not just a catchy slogan\u2014it\u2019s a stark \u2063truth. California\u2019s fentanyl crisis kills 110 Californians \u2062each week. Our\u2062 families continue to be torn apart and our communities devastated. Yet, politics continue to stand \u200bin\u2063 the way \u2062of delivering for the people of\u2064 California \u200cto end this \u200cnightmare. It is unfortunate that bipartisan solutions can\u200c so easily be thrown into\u2062 a dark room to never\u2064 again \u200dsee the light of \u200bday.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>  On June 5th, \u2063we\u2064 introduced a\u200b bipartisan constitutional \u2064amendment, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/california-republicans-attempt-to-force-floor-vote-on-fentanyl-legislation-5487436\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACA 12<\/a>, \u2064also known as Alexandra\u2019s Law. It has been waiting to be set for a policy committee hearing ever since. \u2064Meanwhile, another constitutional \u2063amendment, <a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240ACA13\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ACA 13<\/a>, introduced more than a month\u200d later, was pushed through the\u2063 legislative process and headed to \u2062voters.\n<\/div>\n<p>The\u2064 impact these measures would have on Californians could not be more different.<\/p>\n<p>Alexandra\u2019s Law \u200bwould \u2062amend the California constitution to \u200crequire \u2063courts to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/prioritize-saving-lives-over-raising-taxes-californians-deserve-better\/\" title=\"Save lives first, not taxes\u2014Californians deserve more.\">warn convicted fentanyl dealers<\/a> that\u2063 selling this drug can kill someone. \u200bIf the \u200cdealers continue selling\u2063 and it results in a death, this \u2064first warning would allow prosecutors\u2064 to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/second-teen-in-car-that-mowed-down-retired-police-chief-arrested-both-face-murder-charges\/\" title=\"Second teen arrested for murder after car driven by them mows down retired police chief.\">pursue murder charges<\/a>. This is a bipartisan, common-sense approach\u2062 that has additionally been introduced \u2063by one of our Democrat colleagues in the \u200dSenate. \u2063It has earned the support of a majority of \u2062State Senators.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:623px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>California \u200bAssemblywoman Diane \u2063Dixon, R-Newport\u200c Beach, speaks\u2063 at \u200da press conference where California Assemblymembers,\u200b law enforcement officials, and local\u200b representatives propose to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/californias-child-sex-trafficking-bill-in-limbo-again-supporters-outraged-after-fiscal-hearing\/\" title=\"California's Child Sex Trafficking Bill remains uncertain, causing outrage among its supporters following a fiscal hearing.\">put stricter fentanyl enforcement<\/a> on the upcoming 2024 ballot,\u2062 in front of the Capitol\u2063 in Sacramento on June 6,\u2064 2023. \u200b(Courtesy of Assembly Republican Caucus)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>  Alexandra\u2019s Law was named after 20-year-old Alexandra Capelouto. She lost her\u2064 life \u200dafter ingesting what she believed to be \u2064oxycodone, purchasing it from a \u2063dealer on social\u200c media. Unfortunately, \u200dit was\u200c not oxycodone. It was <a href=\"https:\/\/spectrumnews1.com\/ca\/la-west\/politics\/2021\/03\/19\/alexandra-s-law-would-go-after-drug-dealers-for-fentanyl-fatalities\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">five times<\/a> the amount of fentanyl needed to take someone\u2019s life.\u200c Alexandra lost her life alone in\u200c bed, just two days \u200dbefore Christmas in 2019\u2014her \u200bfamily was robbed of her\u200d by the evil\u2064 of fentanyl.\n<\/div>\n<p>Still, even with bipartisan backing, our colleagues across the aisle refuse to allow ACA\u200b 12 to \u200dhave a committee hearing, let alone take this amendment to the voters and let \u200cthem\u2063 decide.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n<p>  Then there\u2019s the\u200d story of ACA 13. This hyper-partisan bill <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ocregister.com\/2023\/08\/25\/aca-13-attacks-both-proposition-13-and-direct-democracy-in-california\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">limits the power\u200b of the people<\/a> to pass taxpayer protection measures and makes California\u2019s\u200d affordability\u2062 crisis even worse. It is a\u2062 blatant attempt by Sacramento to make it\u200c easier\u200c for \u2064them to squeeze more money out of \u2064California taxpayers\u2019 pockets.\n<\/div>\n<p>ACA 13, even though it was introduced much later \u2062than Alexandra\u2019s law and did not have bipartisan support, soared \u2064through the Assembly without delay,\u200b proving that \u2063priorities in the Capitol \u200bcould not be any further from what Californians \u2062not only want, but need, from their representatives.<\/p>\n<p>The fentanyl \u200dcrisis has been met with empty promises, unsuccessful hearings, and other delay tactics from\u200b those in\u2064 power.<\/p>\n<p>Assembly Republicans have proposed the California Promise, real solutions \u200bto address the needs of regular \u200cCalifornians.<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-figure\" style=\"margin-left:0;margin-right:0;max-width:1200px\">\n<figure style=\"width:634px;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>California Assemblyman Juan Alanis, R-Modesto,\u2063 speaks at a press conference where California\u2064 Assemblymembers,\u200d law enforcement officials, and\u2064 local representatives propose to put stricter \u2064fentanyl enforcement on the upcoming \u20622024 ballot, in front of \u2063the Capitol in Sacramento on June 6, 2023. (Courtesy of\u2063 Assembly Republican Caucus)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<p>Part of this promise to\u2062 Californians \u2064includes tackling \u2064the fentanyl \u200dcrisis and spreading awareness \u2064on the dangers\u2063 of its poison. We are\u2063 committed to working with our colleagues regardless of\u200b the letter next to their name.<\/p>\n<p>We \u2062are committed \u2064to the importance\u200b of rehabilitation\u2063 and supporting individuals to overcome the battle of addiction.<\/p>\n<p>We are committed to preventing more\u200d deaths and getting fentanyl off of our streets.<\/p>\n<p>Alexandra\u2019s\u2064 Law \u200b(ACA 12) is part of our promise. Alexandra\u2019s Law stands with families and victims, and against those selling this poison.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s \u2063not the entire solution, but it\u2019s a critical part\u200b of it.<\/p>\n<p>We don\u2019t care who\u2062 gets the credit for solving the crisis, we just want to save lives \u200dand stop\u2064 fentanyl from continuing to wreak havoc on our state. The people of\u200c our state deserve to have their voices heard, and Alexandra\u2019s \u2062Law deserves to be treated with the same urgency as the Democrats\u2019 effort to find more ways to increase our taxes.<\/p>\n<div class=\"my-5\">\n  <em>Views expressed in this article are opinions\u200c of\u200b the \u200bauthor and do not\u200c necessarily\u2062 reflect\u2064 the views of\u200b The Epoch Times.<\/em>\n<\/div>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How can strengthening penalties for fentanyl-related offenses contribute to combating the fentanyl crisis in California?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  &#8220;>ACA 2<\/a>, that would help combat the fentanyl crisis in California. This bill would require that any future\u200d legislation related to fentanyl be approved by a two-thirds vote in both\u200b the State\u2064 Assembly and Senate. By doing\u200d so, we aim to ensure that any bill addressing this crisis receives the attention and prioritization it deserves.<\/div>\n<p>Unfortunately, despite the sense of urgency surrounding the fentanyl crisis, our efforts to move\u200d this bill forward have been met\u2064 with resistance. During a recent committee hearing, our colleagues across the aisle voted to defeat ACA 2, effectively blocking its progress.\u200c It was disheartening to see that\u2062 some \u2064legislators are more concerned with raising taxes than saving lives.<\/p>\n<p>While we understand the need for fiscal responsibility and the importance of funding various government programs, \u200cwe firmly believe that\u200d addressing the fentanyl crisis should be a top priority. The devastating impact of this lethal drug on our communities cannot be ignored.<\/p>\n<p>According to the California Department of Public Health, fentanyl-related deaths have\u200b increased by nearly 500% from 2015 to 2020. This\u200d alarming statistic highlights the urgency of taking immediate action. We need legislation that strengthens \u200dpenalties for fentanyl-related offenses, improves access to addiction\u200b treatment and rehabilitation services, and enhances law enforcement efforts to intercept and prevent the distribution of this deadly drug.<\/p>\n<p>By prioritizing the passage of bills that address the fentanyl crisis,\u200b we can save lives and protect our\u200d communities. \u2062It is time for our legislators to put aside partisan differences and work together to find effective solutions. The fentanyl crisis does not discriminate; it affects Californians from all\u200c walks of \u2064life, regardless of political affiliation.<\/p>\n<p>We call on \u200dour colleagues in Sacramento to reconsider their priorities \u2063and support legislation that will make a real difference in ending the \u200cfentanyl crisis. \u200cThe people of California deserve \u2062better. We must prioritize the safety and well-being of our constituents over political agendas.<\/p>\n<p>The time to act is now. Lives are at stake, and we cannot afford to \u2063wait any longer. We urge our fellow legislators to stand up against the fentanyl crisis and support measures that will save lives and protect our communities. Together, we can make a difference and bring an end to \u2063this devastating epidemic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If we asked constituents in our districts what the State Legislature should prioritize &#8211; a bill to raise taxes or a bill to combat the fentanyl crisis &#8211; the answer would be clear. Yet, those in power in Sacramento seem to overlook this obvious choice.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2445,"featured_media":2048652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2048651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048651","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2445"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2048651"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2048651\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2048652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2048651"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2048651"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2048651"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}