California's economy continues to be strong, and that's reflected in the 2018-19 state budget that Governor Jerry Brown proposed on January 10^th. The Governor's finance team estimates that the budget will benefit from a surplus of $6.1 billion this year.

However, I know all too well how quickly a surplus can turn into a deficit, so we must proceed carefully.

The day before the Governor proposed his budget, my colleagues in the Senate's Democratic Caucus officially selected me to be the next Senate President pro Tempore. I am scheduled to be sworn into office on March 21, meaning I'll be in position to represent the Senate in budget negotiations later in the spring before the budget is finalized in June.
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With Governor Jerry Brown
 

In January, I began introducing pieces of my 2018 legislative package, and I started with two ideas that I pushed for in recent years – I am not giving up on them.

The first one ensures that low-income women in California who suffer from breast or cervical cancer, and are uninsured or underinsured, receive the treatment they need for their cancer.

In 2016, Gov. Jerry Brown signed my bill AB 1795, which expanded cancer treatment by lowering the minimum eligibility age for symptomatic women to receive breast-cancer screening, and by providing treatment for women who experience a recurrence of cancer regardless of whether or not it appears in the same part of the body as the first occurrence.
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Announcing AB 1795 in 2016
 

Last year, California was extremely fortunate to have received a large amount of essential rainfall in the winter and spring. According to the San Diego County Water Authority, by the beginning of January 2018, both the San Vicente and Olivenhain reservoirs that serve as local sources of our water supply were measured at 75% capacity.

Our region has worked hard to conserve water during the last few years, and we have been very successful in protecting our local resources. While we have also diversified our water sources, it's important for us to remain mindful of the implications of climate change and the unpredictability of our weather patterns.
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In January, the state Department of Motor Vehicles began issuing driver's licenses that comply with new federal aviation security regulations. The new license is called a REAL ID, and it's the only driver's license that, in a couple of years from now, will allow you to board a domestic flight.

But don't worry, you have plenty of time. You may use your current driver's license to board an airplane, as long as it hasn't expired, until October 1^st, 2020. And if you never get a REAL ID, you'll be able to board a plane with a valid passport.
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San Diego doesn't get nearly the credit it deserves for its cultural offerings. Our theater scene is world-class, and our museums are wonderful. And February brings special opportunities to experience what some of our most thought-provoking arts organizations are doing.
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Seeing Escape to Margaritaville with my spouse, Jennifer
 

In recognition of Black History Month in February, we celebrate the outstanding contributions African-Americans have made in our nation. The rich history of our African-American community, from those names that we know well to those that we will never hear, continues to be a significant piece of the fabric of our society.

"You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I rise."
- Maya Angelou, 1928-2014
 

My district staff is always available to help constituents navigate a complex web of state agencies.

Back in November, a community group in the 39^th Senate District applied to become a charitable trust, and they had the opportunity to seek a grant for their projects. However, they needed to be a bona-fide nonprofit in order to qualify. The deadline for the grant was looming, yet they still didn't have approval on their nonprofit status.
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I was honored to speak at the Women's March in San Diego. For the second year in a row, about 40,000 people came out and made their voices heard.

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