Senate Bill 14 authored by Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield) has momentum and gained more than 50 bipartisan co-authors over the past week. SB 14 would add the sex trafficking of a minor to the lists of “serious crimes” under California law, making the crime a strike under the “Three Strikes” law. If passed, SB 14 will help strengthen protections for millions of child sex-trafficking victims. All members of the California Senate Republican Caucus are co-authors of SB 14.
In his latest column for the Los Angeles Times, columnist George Skelton agrees with California Senate Republicans about SB 14. Skelton’s column, “It’s simple — peddling children for sex is serious,”issued scathing words for Democrat lawmakers on the Assembly Public Safety Committee:
“If a pimp is peddling children for sex — supplying kids for pedophiles — it’s a serious crime. No “ifs” or “buts.”
You got it, Democrats?”
The Los Angeles Times joins other media outlets in blasting Democrat lawmakers on the Assembly Public Safety Committee for their mishandling of SB 14.
In Tom Philip’s column, “California Democrats deserve to be embarrassed for bungling sex trafficking bill,” the Sacramento Bee editorial writer stated, “A bipartisan outcry led by Gov. Gavin Newsom caused the bill to come back before the committee whose members promptly voted for it - save for Mia Bonta and Isaac Bryan, who abstained.”
From Sacramento NBC affiliate KCRA, “Blocked child sex trafficking bill puts key California committee under fire,” reporter Ashley Zavala stated, “A day after rejecting a bill that would have classified child sex trafficking as a serious felony under California law, the Assembly Public Safety Committee is facing intense scrutiny from Democratic state leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom, who are vowing to address the issue.”
CalMatters reported that, “A backlash swiftly took shape on social media. Comments ranged from ‘What on earth were these Democrats thinking?’ to accusations that they were siding with pedophiles,” in their story “California Democrats resisted a child trafficking bill — until they couldn’t.”
“Because of immense public pressure, support from my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in the legislature, and reporters who are not afraid to ask the tough questions, SB 14 passed out of the Assembly Public Safety Committee. I’m grateful that the measure has strong bipartisan support. Let’s work together to get SB 14 across the finish line and to Governor Newsom’s desk for his signature,” said Senator Shannon Grove (R-Bakersfield).
“Senate Bill 14 stands as yet another example of the meaningful public safety measures consistently introduced by Senate Republicans aimed at safeguarding our most vulnerable Californians. We will continue our bipartisan fight to hold child sex traffickers accountable for their heinous crimes,” said Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego).