Free Republic

House Democratic leaders are expanding the roster for the chamber’s coveted tax-writing panel after outcry from lawmakers about the lack of Hispanic representation on the committee. Rep. Jimmy Gomez, a second-term Democrat from California, was tapped to join the ranks of the Ways and Means Committee on Monday night, nearly a week after leadership announced the Democratic slate for the panel. The move comes after multiple Democrats voiced alarm about the lack of Latinos on Ways and Means, one of the most sought-after committees in the House. Without the addition of Gomez, Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.) would have been the...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Following controversy over undercover videos filmed by the Center for Medical Progress (CMP) into the practices of Planned Parenthood, a lawmaker in California has introduced a bill that would make secretly recording inside abortion facilities punishable by up to a year behind bars. “It is the intent of the legislature to enact legislation to prohibit any person from intentionally video recording a confidential communication, or disclosing or distributing that video-recording communication, without obtaining the consent of all parties to the communication,” A.B. 1671, introduced by Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez ,reads. It criminalizes any person who “intentionally discloses or...

In the wake of an undercover investigation into Planned Parenthood’s alleged fetal trafficking operation, the California state legislature is considering a bill that would criminalize publishing secretly recorded video footage of “health care providers.” AB 1671, which has been backed by Planned Parenthood, would criminalize the publication of confidential interactions with state-licensed medical personnel, including abortionists and clinician staff, punishable by up to one year in prison and a $10,000 fine per violation. Introduced by Los Angeles Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, the bill has received criticism from both pro-life activists and those who worry about its potential to chill free speech...

230.9. (a) It shall be unlawful for a large employer, as defined in Section 14199.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to designate an employee as an independent contractor or temporary employee, reduce an employee's hours of work, or terminate an employee if the purpose of the action is to avoid the employer's obligations under Article 7 (commencing with Section 14199) of Chapter 7 of Part 3 of Division 9 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.