Republican Assembly Leader meets with Plumas Republicans
District 1 Assembly member Brian Dahle paid a visit to the Plumas County Republican Women’s luncheon May 24 to discuss current issues and efforts in California government.
Dahle, a Republican, is known for working across party lines to facilitate job creation and economic development for rural California areas. Last summer, Dahle was elected to be the Assembly Republican leader and explained to a full house at Graeagle Meadows Restaurant, that his new job is to recruit Republican assembly members for committees.
“I haven’t changed much,” Dahle said about his new position. “I did get a little older and little more frustrated.”
He discussed some of the issues on the ballot, saying the gas tax will finally be put to the voters. He also said he is working on a bill that would reform parole and theft laws that Prop. 47 changed in 2014, which allows theft of up to $950 a day to only be a misdemeanor. Dahle said The Keep California Safe Act would reestablish accountability for criminal acts.
Dahle said he was proud that he was able to bring over 100 legislators up to District 1 in the past year. It is important for law makers to see what it is like living in a rural area, and the issues communities face. He said his efforts paid off, and he was able to coauthor a bipartisan bill that would provide more funding for rural internet services.
Dahle told the crowd that California Republicans are struggling under demonization by the media, and other parties. He mentioned President Trump and his use of Twitter.
“It is hard to defend that stuff,” he said. “I’m just a different kind of Republican.”
Dahle also spoke on the sanctuary state issue and said the concept was already backfiring, and communities and counties are not supportive of the state’s position on illegal immigrants.
Dahle said he was hopeful for the Republican initiative. He said though Democrats hold the majority, bills that Republicans present are just barely short of the votes to pass. He also said the unions have control of the government in many ways, and there is now a case in the Supreme Court which, if won, would allow union members to opt out of union dues going towards political campaigns.
“That would change everything,” he said.
