Press Release: LOS ANGELES COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS APPLAUD APPROVAL OF AB 30

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 12, 2009

Contact: Dan Witzling, Vice President of Communications (vpcom@lacyd.org)

or David Graham-Caso, Legislative Director (legislative@lacyd.org)

LOS ANGELES COUNTY YOUNG DEMOCRATS APPLAUD APPROVAL OF AB 30

Measure’s Approval the Result of Two-Year Effort to Increase Young Voter Engagement

Los Angeles, Calif. - Los Angeles County Young Democrats (LACYD), one of the state’s largest young professional political associations, today applauded Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger for signing Assembly Bill 30 into law. AB 30, authored by Senator Curren Price Jr., will increase the number of registered voters in California by allowing 17-year olds to “pre-register” to vote.

“We are thrilled that after two years of hard work by Senator Price’s staff and young Democrats across the state, this bill will become law,” stated Katherine Hennigan, LACYD president. “LACYD is a proud supporter of efforts such as AB 30, which seek to improve our democracy by increasing the number of registered voters in California.”

AB 30 will allow 17-year olds who meet all voter eligibility requirements (other than age) to “pre-register” to vote. When the pre-registered teenagers turn 18, they will be automatically added to the ranks of registered voters in California.

AB 30 was originally introduced by then-Assemblymember Price in 2008 as AB 1819. After the bill was held-up in committee last year, Asm. Price reintroduced the legislation at the beginning of the 2009 session. Both AB 1819 and AB 30 were among the top legislative priorities for LACYD, which resulted in the hundreds of members of the organization being asked to help advocate for the bill by writing and calling legislators and the Governor to urge approval for the measure.

“Senator Price has proven his commitment to the future of California time and time again,” said Hennigan. “LACYD thanks Senator Price for his tireless work to improve civic engagement and political participation among young voters.”

Founded in 1973, LACYD was established to give young Democrats a voice and a vehicle for activism in local, state and federal political issues.

BACKGROUND: LACYD is the premiere Young Democratic Club in the greater Los Angeles area. LACYD's founders include: Congressman Howard Berman, Congressman Henry Waxman, Los Angeles Controller Rick Tuttle, and many other Democratic leaders. Founded in 1973, LACYD was established to give young Democrats a voice and a vehicle for activism in local, state and federal political issues. Katherine Hennigan currently serves as LACYD President. (www.lacyd.org)

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LACYD Approves Resolution in Support of Clean CA Gubernatorial Primary Campaign Pledge

The Los Angeles County Young Democrats (LACYD) Executive Board unanimously adopted the following resolution on September 30, 2009:

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A CLEAN CAMPAIGN PLEDGE

“Whereas, California will suffer irreparable harm to our economy, education, and health care systems, environment, infrastructure and more, unless we elect a Democratic governor in 2010; and,

“Whereas, the Republicans are on track to nominate a candidate for governor who is independently wealthy and who will invest tens of millions of dollars in negative attacks on the Democratic nominee; and,

“Whereas, Democrats cannot afford a negative, bruising primary that leaves our nominee weakened and damaged going into the general election;

“Therefore, Be It Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Young Democrats urge Democrats to work together in a way that guarantees a Democratic victory in November by requesting any current and prospective Democratic gubernatorial candidates to sign a Clean Campaign Pledge which includes campaigning in an open and fair manner, without resorting to defamatory attacks or unwarranted invasions of personal privacy issues; and,

“Be It Further Resolved, that the Los Angeles County Young Democrats contact each candidate to make its position known and ask the candidate to sign such a pledge.”

Katherine Hennigan

President

Los Angeles County Young Democrats