California Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones leads the charge against Democratic inaction on fentanyl crisis

California Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones is leading the charge against the Democratic party’s inaction regarding the fentanyl crisis. The Senate Republican Caucus, including Jones, is expected to speak on practical solutions to combat the fentanyl crisis while Democrats continue to choose drug dealers over victims and their families.

Several fentanyl-related measures have been proposed in the Senate, but four radical Democrats on the Senate Public Safety Committee have blocked any real progress in the fight against the fentanyl crisis.

Senate Bill 44, a bipartisan measure introduced by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) and Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana), was rejected twice by the four Democrats on the Senate Public Safety Committee. SB 44 would have ensured fentanyl dealers are fully aware of the consequences of selling this lethal drug and helped hold them accountable. It required courts to advise individuals convicted of fentanyl sales and manufacturing-related offenses that subsequent offenses could result in a charge of voluntary manslaughter or murder.

Senate Bill 237 (Grove) would have increased penalties for those who possessed fentanyl for sale or purchase for sale. Senate Bill 325 (Grove) would have added penalties for the buying, selling, and transporting of “rainbow” fentanyl. Senate Bill 62 (Nguyen) would have added fentanyl to the list of controlled substances eligible for an additional prison term.

Senator Jones and the Senate Republicans believe that the Democratic party’s failure to act on the fentanyl crisis is unacceptable and has potentially deadly consequences. By opposing these measures, Democrats have chosen to support drug dealers and their profits over the lives of Californians. Leader Jones is committed to continuing the fight against the fentanyl crisis and is urging the Democratic party to take action and join them in protecting the people of California.

***FLOOR ALERT*** Leader Jones, California Senate Republicans to Expose Senate Democrats for Inaction on Fentanyl Crisis

SACRAMENTO –This afternoon, Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones(R-San Diego) and members of the California Senate Republican Caucus will speak on real solutions to combat the fentanyl crisis. Meanwhile legislative Democrats consistently choose to side with deadly drug dealers over victims and their families. Click here to watch the Senate Floor session which begins at 2:00P.M.Multiple fentanyl-related measures have been introduced in the Senate, but four radical Democrats who serve on the Senate Public Safety Committee have blocked any real meaningful action on the fight against the fentanyl crisis.

Below is a list of Republican measures that have been rejected by radical Democrats in the Senate Public Safety Committee:

Senate Bill 44, a bipartisan measure introduced by Senator Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Yucaipa) and Senator Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) with more than 20 Senate co-authors was struck down twice by four Democrats on the Senate Public Safety Committee – once on March 28^th and again when an amended version of the bill was killed on April 25th. SB 44 simply would ensure fentanyl dealers are fully aware of the consequences of selling this lethal drug and help hold them accountable. Specifically, the measure requires courts to advise individuals convicted of fentanyl sales and manufacturing-related offenses that subsequent offenses could result in a charge of voluntary manslaughter or murder.

Senate Bill 237 (Grove) would increase penalties for any person who possesses fentanyl for sale or purchase for sale by two years (to 4, 5, or 6 years), transport, sale, and distribution by four years (to 7, 8, or 9 years), and trafficking by four years (to 7, 10, or 13 years).

Senate Bill 325 (Grove) would add penalties of 3, 4, or 5 years of additional punishment for the buying, selling, and transporting of “rainbow” fentanyl.

Senate Bill 62 (Nguyen) would add fentanyl to the list of controlled substances (currently heroin, cocaine base, and cocaine), which are eligible for an additional prison term (i.e. a sentence enhancement) ranging from three to twenty-five years based on the volume of the controlled substance.