Karen Bass
From Ballotpedia
| Karen Bass | |
| California State Assembly District 47 | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 2005 | |
| Current term ends 2010 | |
| Political party | Democrat |
| Profession | Founder/Exec Dir, Community Coalition |
| Website | Official website |
Contents |
Karen Bass (b. October 3, 1953) is a Democratic member of the California State Assembly, representing the 47th District. She is also the Speaker of the California State Assembly. Bass was first elected to the state's assembly in November 2004, and was then re-elected in November 2006 and November 2008. Under California's term limits, she cannot run for another term.
Bass was elected by her Democratic colleagues in late 2008 to serve as the Speaker of the California Assembly after having served as the Majority Floor Leader from 2006-2008.
Bass has a B.S. in Health Services from California State University-Dominguez Hills and a Physician Assistant Certification from the School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.
She founded and served as the executive director of Community Coalition starting in 1990. She has also worked as a clinical instructor at the USC School of Medicine (1986-present).
Karen Bass commemorates one-year anniversary as speaker |
State budget crisis
As the state of California faces ongoing budget deficits and turmoil in 2009, Joe Mathews of Blockbuster Democracy writes, "No one understands the political dynamics of volatile state revenues better than Ms. Bass....after negotiating three rounds of budget cuts in the past year she has grown weary of deficit politics."[1]
The California Commission on the 21st Century Economy, a commission Bass pushed to create at the end of 2008, is expected to announce at the end of July 2009 that it recommends that California adopt a flat, or flatter, personal income tax and cut or repeal corporate and sales taxes. The commission was asked to provide recommendations to reduce the volatility in tax revenues.[1]
Committee membership
Sponsored legislation
Bass's sponsored legislation includes:
- AB 262 - American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan
- AB 1327 - State Capitol Sustainability Task Force
- AB 1402 - Family connection grants
For details and a full listing of sponsored bills, see the House site.
Major donors
Below are Bass's top 5 campaign contributors in the 2008 election:[2]
| Contributor | 2008 total |
|---|---|
| CA Building Industry Assoc | $20,036 |
| CA Democratic Party | $16,613 |
| CA Teachers Assoc | $14,400 |
| Service Employees Local 721 | $14,400 |
| Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters | $14,400 |
External links
- Official state assembly website of Karen Bass
- Biographical profile of Karen Bass on Project Vote Smart
- Campaign contributions: 2004, 2006, 2008
- Challenges and lessons from a year as Speaker
References
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