(KMJ) – California Assembly Bill 22, authored by San Francisco Democrat Rob Bonta (pictured) seeks to repeal Cold War era California laws that allowed State employees to be fired for being members of the Communist Party.
Bonta called his bill an update to outdated provisions in California law.
But Assembly Republicans blasted the bill, reminding lawmakers that Communism and Communists nations (China and North Korea) still pose a threat to this Nation.
On Monday, AB-22 was approved by a vote of 41 to 30 (with 9 votes not recorded) in the Assembly. It now moves over to the California Senate.
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) was unable to cast a vote because he was at home recovering from surgery. However, he tells KMJ News he would have voted “No” if he were present.
Valley Assemblymembers Dr. Joaquin Arambula (D-Fresno), Devon Mathis (R-Visalia ), Frank Bigelow (R-Madera) and Vince Fong (R-Bakersfield) voted against the measure.
Rudy Salas (D-Bakersfield), Adam Gray (D-Modesto) voted in favor.
