Sacramento, CA -Choosing optics over action on measures that would hold deadly drug dealers accountable, California Senate Democrats supported Senate Concurrent Resolution (SCR) 39 today just days after rejecting several measures to tackle the fentanyl crisis. Senate Minority Leader Brian W. Jones (R-San Diego) and members of the California Senate Republican Caucus called out the clear hypocrisy, pointing out how Senate Republicans have been working on real solutions to combat the fentanyl crisis, but legislative Democrats consistently sidelined the efforts.

“Democrat lawmakers recognize the fentanyl crisis as a problem, yet they reject efforts to actually address it,” said Leader Jones. “They choose optics over action, while fentanyl dealers get off the hook and kids get dealt deadly drugs. It’s time to stop the hypocrisy and start holding those responsible for this crisis accountable.”

Senate Minority Caucus Chair Janet Nguyen (R-Huntington Beach), co-author of SCR 39 said, “Raising awareness is part of a multi-prong approach, yet we need to do more. I urge Senate Democrats to join my Republican colleagues and me in our efforts to take serious action on this crisis and pass meaningful legislation taking a tougher stance against fentanyl dealers. We need to act now.”

Multiple fentanyl-related measures have been introduced in the Senate, but four radical Democrats who serve on the Senate Public Safety Committee have blocked meaningful action on the fight against the fentanyl crisis. One Senate Democrat even went as far as stating that he was concerned about the “unintended consequences” that impose stricter penalties on meth or cocaine dealers as it relates to Senate Bill 44, a bipartisan fentanyl bill. Here is the clip from the hearing on April 25. 

Below is a list of bills introduced by Senate Republicans 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 and again when an amended version of the bill was killed on April 25. SB 44 simply would ensure fentanyl dealers are fully aware they will be held accountable for selling the lethal drug by requiring the 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): 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. 

Senator Brian W. Jones represents California’s 40th Senate District which includes the Cities of Escondido, Poway, San Marcos, Santee, San Diego City communities of Carmel Mountain Ranch, Mira Mesa, Rancho Bernardo, Rancho Peñasquitos, Scripps Ranch, Sorrento Valley, and University City, along with the San Diego County unincorporated communities of 4S Ranch, Alpine, Bonsall, Fallbrook, Lakeside, Pine Valley, Rainbow, Ramona, and Valley Center.

Elected in 2022 overwhelmingly, Senator Janet Nguyen represents California Senate District 36, which covers Huntington Beach, Garden Grove, Newport Beach, Corona Del Mar, Westminster, San Clemente, Capistrano Beach, Fountain Valley, Buena Park, Dana Point, Seal Beach, Surfside, Laguna Beach, Stanton, La Palma, Los Alamitos, Cerritos, Artesia and Hawaiian Gardens and unincorporated cities of Midway City and Rossmoor. Senator Janet Nguyen has previously served as a City Councilmember, Orange County Supervisor, State Senate in the 34th District, and State Assembly.