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AS he transitions into lame-duck status and contemplates his next political move, termed-out Assemblyman Anthony Portantino, D-La Ca ada Flintridge...

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Measure to Ban Openly Carrying Unloaded Long Guns in Public

SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Canada Flintridge) has introduced AB 1527, a measure that will prohibit individuals from openly displaying unloaded rifles and shotguns in public. Portantino introduced the legislation at the urging of law enforcement as a follow up to last year’s successful AB 144, which banned openly carrying an unloaded handgun in public places.

In reaction to the enactment of AB 144, Open Carry Organizations across the State began hosting open carry events brandishing rifles and shotguns in place of the now illegal handguns. In at least once instance, they showed up at a police fundraiser wielding unloaded rifles.

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Telephone Numbers and Website Fact Sheet:

Sacramento – Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) along with seven fellow Italian American legislators today unveiled the "Italian American Legislator Project of 2011: A Legacy of Service to the California Legislature".

The Legislator project has identified 51 current or former State Senators and Assemblymembers of Italian American heritage including former Senate Pro Tem David Roberti and the oldest living former legislator, Larry Chimbole, age 92. Mr. Roberti and Mr. Chimbole took part in today’s ceremonies along with former Assemblymen Sal Canella and Roger Niello. Read More...

(Sacramento) -- In California, any registered gun owner can openly carry their gun in public as long as it is not concealed and not loaded. Gun activists have taken advantage of the loophole in California's gun law, by organizing large "open carry" events in public places. Many members of the public have been disturbed by the display of weapons. Law enforcement has had to respond to make sure the guns were not loaded. That's why California State Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena) has authored Assembly Bill 144. AB 144 would eliminate the loophole in California's law that allows people to openly carry an unloaded gun in public. Learn more in this Assembly Access Video.

Pasadena – Assemblymember Anthony Portantino has chosen Arcadia Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, Beth Costanza as his 2011 Woman of the Year for the 44th Assembly District. Mrs. Costanza flew to Sacramento today where Assemblymember Portantino praised her lifetime of hard work and dedication to the communities of Arcadia and Monrovia. Read More...

Veteran producer and talent manager Larry Thompson was captivated by the true story of the Amish community in Nickel Mines, Pa., that somehow managed to forgive a gunman who killed five girls in a 2006 schoolhouse shooting. Read More...

Sacramento - When a young person is diagnosed with cancer, he or she may also receive the additional shock of learning the very treatment that could save their lives, could also rob them of the ability to have children. Read More...

What would you do if you walked into a downtown McDonald's and were confronted with a group of men carrying guns? If you are like most of us, you would probably flee for your life and then immediately call the cops. However, in California and many other states, there is not much the police could do except keep a close eye on the armed men. Read More...

The school shooting in Gardena and the Tucson rampage drove home the point that the U.S. dialogue on weapons and ammunition needs to include moderate voices.

Steve Lopez
January 19 2011

The gun was in a backpack, we're told. The backpack was dropped or set down in a Gardena High School classroom Tuesday morning, and the gun fired accidentally, critically injuring a 15-year-old female student who was struck in the head. A male student, also 15, was shot in the neck. Read More...

(Sacramento) - Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) has introduced a bill to ban the “open carry” of firearms in the state of California. Assemblymember Portantino was interviewed on KNX Radio in Los Angeles about Assembly Bill 144. He pointed out that law enforcement officers have thrown their support behind the bill. “We have laws to license weapons in California and this bill will improve them.  It keeps guns out of public places by individuals who are not properly and legally licensed to carry weapons,” explained Assemblymember Portantino. Listen to the entire interview here.

(Sacramento) - Following a phone call from one of his constituents, Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-Pasadena) pressed the state Department of Motor Vehicles to add information about current pet safety laws to the official driver's handbook. The revised DMV handbook will remind drivers it is illegal to leave a pet unattended in a car, even with the windows partially rolled down, because of the dangers posed by high temperatures inside a car. California is the first state to add pet safety information to its driver's handbook. Assemblymember Portantino says the DMV's action shows a citizen can make a difference and sometimes a problem can be resolved without passing additional legislation.

For some time now, I have been working to establish the California Umbilical Cord Blood Collection Program so that all Californians can benefit from this life-saving therapy. As you will see from the following article in the Sacramento Bee, I authored a bill to fund the program at the University of California and it is sitting on the Governor's desk awaiting his signature. It's a measure that we believe will save many lives.

Click here to read the Sacramento Bee article

Dear Friends,

I am very excited that efforts to bring tax relief to residents who have suffered losses in the Station Fire and mudslides are moving forward. Assembly Bill 1662 has passed the State Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. As the author of AB 1662, along with my friend and colleague, Assemblyman Kevin Jeffries, it is exciting to continue to receive overwhelming bi-partisan support as the bill makes its way through the Senate.

The bill will provide state property tax exemptions to homeowners and businesses that are forced to repair or rebuild because of a natural disaster. I originally wrote the legislation after fires and mudslides devastated some 160 thousand acres in the Angeles National Forest and the surrounding hillside communities. I have seen first hand the need for assistance. For those who lost their homes and property because of fires, mudslides or other natural disasters, this tax relief cannot come soon enough.

As you may recall, the Station Fire roared across the foothills last fall destroying 209 structures, 89 of which were houses. The heavy mudslides and flash flooding that followed in January and February destroyed or damaged at least 86 homes.

When it became clear that Los Angeles wasn't the only county affected by natural disaster, I amended my bill to include the natural disasters in other counties including: Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Francisco, Monterey, Siskiyou, Imperial and Calaveras counties.

The legislation would also include reimbursement to counties for property tax losses resulting from the reassessment of the damaged properties.

As we head into another fire season, I am hopeful that the legislature will pass this bill and send it on to Governor Schwarzenegger for his signature. As an urgency measure, it would go into effect immediately once it is signed into law.

My staff and I are here to help you if you have any questions on this or other legislation. Please feel free to contact me at my district office in Pasadena at 626.577.9944 or you can go to my website for further information.

CALIFORNIA remains a state in crisis. With the governor's May budget revise out today, lower than expected tax revenues mean California is facing another serious fiscal impasse. Revised estimates show the budget shortfall increasing from $18.6 to $22 billion. View Full Story

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) took his fight to control spending before the Assembly Appropriations Committee today when he presented arguments supporting his bill to freeze salaries for state employees earning over $150,000 per year. Read More...

SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D-La Cañada Flintridge) has added his support to AB 1844 known as "Chelsea's Law", and has signed on as co-author to the bill. Read More...

Governor Schwarzenegger issued the following statement after signing Senate Bill 401:

"This legislation is a great example of what we can accomplish when we work together to solve problems that affect Californians, and I applaud Senator Lois Wolk, Senator Ron Calderon, Assemblymember V. Manuel Perez and Assemblymember Anthony Portantino for their work. It is important that we continue to provide all possible assistance to homeowners who were negatively impacted by the mortgage crisis, and this bill will provide them with necessary mortgage debt relief and protect them from thousands of dollars in unfair taxes," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "SB 401 will also help promote the growth of renewable energy projects in California by providing tax assistance to businesses to get their projects of the ground, which is good news for our economy."

AB 1999 protects teens seeking help for intoxicated friends

SACRAMENTO – The California Assembly today overwhelmingly endorsed legislation aimed at saving teen lives. AB 1999, authored by Assemblymember Anthony Portantino (D- La Cañada Flintridge), was approved on a bi-partisan vote of 74 to 3. The bill encourages teens to seek emergency help for underage drinkers by offering limited immunity from prosecution. Read More...

Assemblymember Portantino and the Governor touring Paradise Valley after receiving an update of the damage caused by the storm.

Dear Foothill Neighbors,

AB 1662 Disaster Relief - My staff and I continue to work on legislation that will help ease the financial impact on homeowners who suffered property losses in the Station Fire and subsequent mudslides. AB 1662 would provide an immediate property tax break for those who lost homes and other property in the fire or mudslides. The bill also provides reimbursement to affected counties for lost property taxes due to those reassessments. If you want to know more about this bill, click here.

Here is the latest on road closures in the district due to the fires and mudslides:

As of March 15, the Angeles Forest Highway from Aliso Canyon Road to Big Tujunga Canyon Road, and all portions of Big Tujunga Canyon Road and Upper Big Tujunga Canyon Road have been re-opened.

Angeles Forest Highway from Big Tujunga Canyon Road to Angeles Crest Highway (SR-2) and Angeles Crest Highway from La Cañada Flintridge city boundary to Mt. Wilson Road remain closed.

While some roads have been re-opened, the Angeles National Forest itself remains closed to the public. Parking along forest roads is not permitted and parked vehicles will be subject to citation and towing. For updates on these and other road closures and openings, visit the Coordinated Agency Recovery Effort (C.A.R.E.) website at www.dpwcare.org.