Opinion-Editorial

Times of San Diego: Two Housing Bills Erode Local Democracy and Undermine Single-Family Neighborhoods

September 1, 2021
There is no debate that California faces a housing affordability crisis. We know that it is very costly to rent or buy a home in most parts of the state, especially in the region I represent, which includes northern San Diego and southern Orange counties. Many Californians recognize that increasing...

Marin Independent Journal: Delaying Proposition 19 provision makes sense for Marin families

May 23, 2021
When a bare majority of California’s voters approved Proposition 19 in last November’s election, they likely bought the pitch that it would limit property taxes for seniors, wildfire victims and disabled homeowners. Who could oppose such a feel-good initiative? However, what the supporters of Prop...

Times of San Diego: California Should Not Tax COVID-19 Relief for Small Businesses

April 17, 2021
Like the rest of our nation, many small businesses in San Diego County have struggled to pay bills, keep their workers employed, and provide for their customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Because of the government-mandated shutdown, Congress created the Paycheck Protection Program last year to...

Presidio Sentinel: California’s Anti-Worker Law Shouldn’t be Imposed Nationwide

February 25, 2021
Independent contracting and freelancing work have been under assault in California for years because, among other things, it interferes with unionizing efforts. California passed a law in 2019 that significantly hurt worker freedom (Assembly Bill 5) and Congress could pass a similar law this year (...

Orange County Register: State budget must focus on addressing critical priorities

January 21, 2021
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s 2021-22 budget proposal kicks off the annual process of setting California’s spending priorities. Given the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s budget process could be far different from prior years. Click here to read Sen. Bates’ entire commentary in the Orange County...

Voice of San Diego: Bill Aimed at Preventing Future Bluff Collapses Isn't All About Seawalls

January 4, 2021
The article “San Diego Scientist Gets Closer to Understanding Why the Coast Collapses” highlights important information about coastal cliff collapses. Unfortunately, the article gives the impression that my legislative effort to prevent further collapses is all about building private seawalls. The...

Sacramento Bee: California tax dollars must not fund Padilla's illegal contract with partisan firm

December 3, 2020
Published by the Sacramento Bee on December 3, 2020

San Diego Union-Tribune: We must combat climate change without forcing more Californians into poverty or out of state

October 30, 2020
Published by the San Diego Union-Tribune on October 29, 2020

Orange County Register: Sen. Bates’ legislation helped lead to agreement: Letters

June 11, 2020
Re “New emergency agreement for San Onofre provides millions to local governments” (News, June 4):

Los Angeles Times: Letters to the Editor: Our choice on coastal erosion shouldn't be 'managed retreat' vs. seawalls

June 5, 2020
More people will die from bluff collapses if nothing is done. Unfortunately, the Coastal Commission has become the commission of “no” to virtually any strategy besides managed retreat.

Yes to Justice, No to Violence

June 3, 2020
Senator Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), issued the following statement regarding the events over the past week in the U.S. regarding George Floyd’s death: “The deeply troubling death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has rightly sparked outrage and demands for justice across the nation. Most who...

Times of San Diego: California Legislature Must Act Prudently to Protect Essential State Services

May 23, 2020
Democrats and Republicans must work together to use California’s rainy day fund prudently and reduce spending in a way that will have the least negative impact on Californians. Failure to do so will only worsen and prolong the painful budget deficit we are now seeing.

Coast News: Shore up bluffs to save lives and preserve beach access

May 20, 2020
While powerful forces prefer the state stick to the status quo of doing nothing to shore up our bluffs and improve public safety, I say we must do better.

Orange County Register: SB 994 will improve accuracy of voter rolls: Letters

March 5, 2020
Re “New bill takes aim at voter fraud; raises concerns about voter suppression”

Orange County Register: Assembly Bill 5 takes a sledgehammer to worker freedom

February 25, 2020
Californians deserve better from their state government than another law that would limit their economic opportunities. The Legislature must repeal and replace AB5.

Orange County Register: The DMV should not automatically register voters

December 29, 2019
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles is already dealing with many problems. The last thing that it should be worrying about is whether it is accurately registering people to vote.

San Diego Union-Tribune: Letters: State must consider all climate change options

December 13, 2019
Re “California’s rising sea level demands aggressive response from state” (Dec. 6): I welcome the call for California’s leaders to address sea level rise in the editorial.

Orange County Register: Promises made on the gas tax increase must be promises kept

October 28, 2019
Published by the Orange County Register on October 25, 2019.

Coast News Group: On San Onofre, feds need to do their job, but so does California

May 29, 2019
There is broad consensus among North County residents about the need to move the nuclear waste of the closed San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) to a safe and secure location.

Los Angeles Times: Letters: A one-line fix for motor voter

April 19, 2019
Published by the Los Angeles Times on April 19, 2019

San Diego Union-Tribune: How motor voter opt-in process promotes election choice and integrity

March 28, 2019
More eligible people voting in our elections is a good thing for our representative democracy. But automatically registering people to vote without their explicit approval at the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has led to unacceptable errors affecting our elections and unfairly putting people at risk of violating election laws.

Orange County Register: Uncollected illegal guns put Californians at risk

March 25, 2019
While it is not easy to find common ground on solutions, I hope we can agree that taking guns away from high-risk individuals with criminal histories and mental health challenges should be a top priority for government.

Orange County Register: The good, the bad and the ugly of Gov. Newsom's budget proposal

January 20, 2019
Gov. Gavin Newsom released his 2019-20 budget earlier this month that, at first glance, has something for everyone to love and dislike. His budget can be classified into three parts — the good, the bad, and the ugly.

San Diego Union-Tribune: Letters: SB 57: Legislation will fix California's motor voter law

December 30, 2018
Published by the San Diego Union-Tribune .

San Diego Union-Tribune: Republicans must try to limit Democrats' excess

December 13, 2018
Democrats hold every statewide office and wield supermajority power in the Legislature. Elections have consequences and many anticipated that Democrats would quickly push for more taxes, more regulations and more government.

Vista Press: Another Reason Why the DMV Audit is Needed

September 17, 2018
Published by the Vista Press .

San Diego Union-Tribune: How granny flats help with California's housing shortage

July 6, 2018
California — and San Diego County in particular — has an affordable housing shortage. Coming to a consensus on adequately addressing this shortage has understandably hit speed bumps due to concerns about the environment, public safety and other quality-of-life issues.

Sacramento Bee: Ending prison contract will put disabled out of work and cost taxpayers

June 7, 2018
The Legislature should reject a troubling proposal by the governor to end a state prison's janitorial contract with PRIDE Industries in favor of hiring unionized state employees. A failure to do so will result in a loss for taxpayers, for a vital part of the state's prison health care system and, most importantly, for hard-working people with disabilities.

Dana Point Times: Letters to the Editor: Governor Shortchanging Local School Districts

May 18, 2018
Published by the Dana Point Times .

Orange County Register: There is no loophole in Proposition 13

April 30, 2018
For decades, California progressives have complained about a “loophole” in Proposition 13 that unfairly benefits the owners of commercial real estate to the detriment of homeowners. This characterization has been widely accepted by the mainstream media with little critical analysis.

Orange County Register: Dangerous flaws in Proposition 57 could result in early release of sex offenders

April 21, 2018
Thanks to Proposition 57, hundreds of sex offenders could be released into our communities through an early parole program. As strong advocates for public safety and most importantly as mothers to our respective families, the prospect of having sexual predators leaving prison early is, to say the least, stomach churning.

San Diego Union-Tribune: Letters: Proposition 13

April 10, 2018
Published by the San Diego Union-Tribune .

Coast News Group: Education remains key to reducing opioid tragedies

April 6, 2018
The opioid epidemic has negatively impacted the lives of millions of people across the nation, and San Diego County is no exception.

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