Senator Anderson's Featured Publications
2/13/2013
Senator Anderson delivered the following speech at today at the State Capitol during a rally protesting Communist China’s “gross violation of human rights” since its invasion of Tibet in 1950, and marking the 100th Anniversary of Tibet’s declaration of independence:
It is an honor and privilege to participate in this very important rally that addresses basic human rights and our God-given right to be free from government oppression.
It is unacceptable that 100 years after the 13th Dalai Lama declared Tibet’s independence, the people of Tibet are still under the oppressive rule of Communist China.
The Tibetan people deserve meaningful autonomy. They deserve to be free from Communist China’s use of fear and terror to keep them oppressed.
All people deserve the freedom of expression, assembly and religious beliefs – These are fundamental human rights that belong to all people.
I don't need to tell anyone here that the Chinese Communist Party's oppression of the Tibetan people is no isolated incident. The Chinese Communist Party has a long history of persecuting its citizens who heroically stand up to exercise their beliefs.
In fact, I authored a letter demanding that the mother of a San Diego resident, a practitioner of Falun Gong in China, be released after she was illegally detained by the Chinese government.
I’m proud to stand with you here today in defense of basic human rights for the Tibetan people, and against the oppression perpetrated by the Chinese communist dictatorship.
Thank you, again, for the opportunity to support the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people in their efforts seek meaningful autonomy for Tibet.
1/7/2013
Senator Joel Anderson (R-San Diego) has joined Senator Ron Calderon (D-Montebello) as the principal co-author of Calderon’s Senate Bill 30, intended to shield thousands of families faced with losing their homes through a “short sale.”
“Over 90,000 Californians lost their home through short sale last year, and if we don’t do this bill, they will be taxed on the loss of their home. That is unreasonable,” said Anderson.
A short sale is when a lender agrees to forgive a homeowner of a portion of their mortgage debt when the home is sold for less than the mortgage owed. California’s tax structure currently treats the forgiven debt as income, requiring a tax payment on money never received.
SB 30 would bring the state’s tax law into conformity with federal tax law and relieve the borrower of having to claim as income the forgiven mortgage debt.
“I am pleased and proud to be co-authoring SB 30 with Senator Calderon, because this bi-partisan effort will allow tax protections for those people going through one of the worst times of their life,” said Anderson.
1/2/2013
Joel is interviewed (12/29/12) on KUSI-TV/Channel 9’s “Good Morning San Diego” morning news program commenting on fiscal cliff.
7/6/2012
During Senate Floor debate about whether to fund High Speed Rail, Senator Joel Anderson made it clear that spending $700 million per year for the next 30 years on debt service for High Speed Rail rather than spending it on educating children was wrong. Senator Anderson objected to the Governor and majority party legislators holding education funding ransom while at the same time spending money on High Speed Rail. Despite passionate arguments by Senator Anderson and others, the State Senate narrowly approved spending billions of dollars on a High Speed Rail plan that has been criticized by a wide range of transportation experts, editorial boards and many others.
6/27/2012
Senator Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) speaks on the Senate Floor against the budget proposal by Governor Brown and Democrat Legislators which threatens funding for education, public safety and programs for the blind, aged and disabled. Anderson also spoke out against the budget proposal because it will continue paying over 5,000 employees at the University of California an annual salary higher than the Governor ($174,000). Anderson also objected to continued funding for High Speed Rail and the lack of pension reform for public employees.
4/17/2012
Two death penalty streamlining measures authored by Joel Anderson (R-Alpine) and supported by Marc Klaas were defeated recently on party-line vote at an emotional hearing before the Senate Public Safety Committee.
“This committee has done nothing to help families of murder victims,” said Marc Klaas, father of 12 year old Polly Klaas who was kidnapped and murdered by Richard Allen Davis in 1993. “Nothing has changed in all these years – Richard Allen Davis still lives while my daughter doesn’t. I appreciate Senator Anderson efforts but the majority on this committee isn’t interested is real justice for victims.”
“The Beltway Sniper was arrested, tried and convicted in two states, and executed in seven years,” said Senator Joel Anderson. “In California these convicted death row prisoners often live longer on death row than their victims’ short lives on earth. These two measures would have helped tackle part of the unreasonable delay of enforcing the death penalty in California.”
Specifically, Senate Bill 1514 would have eliminated the automatic appeal of every death penalty case and Senate Constitutional Amendment 20 would have required that any appeals of death penalty cases go to the State Court of Appeal rather than the State Supreme Court.
3/21/2012
Thousands of them came riding down the street in Carlsbad, all in the name of bringing a little joy to the life of 13-year old Josiah Trujillo, who suffers from Spina Bifida, a debilitating disease which prohibits him from leaving his bed. As a toddler, Josiah loved his toy motorcycles and his dream was to see 3,000 motorcycles ride past his home. P.J. Byrne, an avid motorcycle rider and veteran of charity fundraising “poker runs” for Ronald McDonald House, met Josiah and offered to set up an organized ride past Josiah’s house. P.J. initially thought he could get 100 riders but from there the planning for the ride took on a life of its own, involving dozens of volunteers, several groups and eventually with the help of the Carlsbad Police Department over 4,500 motorcycle came riding down Josiah’s street on January 22, 2012. Senator Joel Anderson spent Sunday morning, March 18, with the event organizers and presented them with official certificates from the State Senate commending them for their hard work to make the dream ride come true for Josiah.
2/15/2012
KGTV – News 10 San Diego – covers the presentation of a “Jason Mraz Signature Model” guitar to Wounded Warrior U.S. Marine Corporal Brad Fite by Senator Joel Anderson, Assemblyman Nathan Fletcher, San Diego’s “Nice Guys” and Taylor Guitars owner Bob Taylor.
Read story & watch video.
1/24/2012
Baby Liam’s parents – Reid and Vanessa Houck – talk with Senator Anderson at the Ramona Library during an event to honor all the individuals and organizations that helped raise the $125,000 to pay for Baby Liam’s life-saving kidney transplant.
1/3/2012
Navy Veteran Ryan Schofield, who interned in Senator Joel Anderson’s El Cajon office, is interviewed on KUSI TV’s “Good Morning San Diego” program by host David Davis. Schofield discussed his transition from the military to civilian life, his family, his goals and his positive experience of interning in Senator Anderson’s office.
