Swalwell crosses the aisle to support Kate’s law–UPDATED

Josh Richman, the communications director for Rep. Eric Swalwell, reached out to me to point out that this was the first time Kate’s law came to a vote. In the prior Congress, it was referred to the House Judiciary Committee and never advanced to the floor for a vote.

My statement that he previously had voted against the bill was in error and I apologize.

Here’s the link:
http://www.congress.gov/bill/114th-congress/house-bill/3011/all-actions

You have to wonder how the political calculation changed for U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin). When Kate’s Law came before the House of Representatives a year ago, Swalwell joined his fellow Democrats in opposing it. With President Obama in the White House, it had no chance of becoming law. The law is named for Kate Steinle, who grew up in Pleasanton and knew Swalwell. She was killed while walking with his father on a San Francisco pier and a five-time deported illegal immigrant is awaiting trial this year.

This time around the House passed “Kate’s Law” easily and Eric joined with 23 other Democrats to easily pass the bill with wide-spread Republican support. The law would increase punishments for criminal offenders who re-enter the United States illegally after being deported.

In a statement, Swalwell wrote, “I knew Kate Steinle growing up and remain in touch with her family, who live in my congressional district. Her heinous murder was a tragedy and we still grieve today, wishing she was still with us. Sadly, we can’t bring Kate back, but lawmakers can work to try and better protect our communities from criminals hurting people."
"This bill is not perfect, and it’s shameful that the Republicans did not allow any debate in the Judiciary Committee, on which I sit, or on the House Floor to improve it. But it does improve our ability to punish individuals who repeatedly break the law and to deter those who may do so," he wrote.
Fair comment, but it is interesting how the Democrats continue to focus on process without regard to any progress.
The House also passed a bill cutting off some federal funding for so-called sanctuary cities such as San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. Of course, the Dems in Sacramento have declared the entire state a sanctuary. It’s about time that local elected officials choosing to pander politically understand that federal law is not something you obey only when you agree.
Try that on a traffic cop.

Based on a recommendation from a friend and personally intrigued, I popped for matinee tickets for “A Night with Janis Joplin” at ACT’s Geary Theater in San Francisco. There were precious few people under 60, more like under 70, in the crowd. We felt like the younger folks—like when we vacation in the Coachella Valley during the winter months.
Having qualified for Social Insecurity a couple of years ago, I will still a high school student when Joplin and the Summer of Love were being celebrated in San Francisco. The 1967 Summer of Love brought an estimated 100,000 young people to the Haight Asbury and overwhelmed social and other city services.
For me, tie-dye and protests were far removed from my life sheltered life in Pleasanton—I would encounter them a year later when I attended one of the most disruptive academic years that UC Berkeley has ever seen.
The conclusion, after the show, that my wife and I mutually reached—we’re a bit too young to really enjoy what was a well-staged production with excellent singers and musicians. We only knew two songs—although I must confess I was singing “Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz” as I drove my first Benz home in 1975.