"Giving special or preferential treatment to someone based on their race is racism itself, or on their sex is sexism. I do not want to live in a state where the color of my skin or my race or my sex or my national origin determines my qualifications for a position, a job or entering to a college. I came here to this country to get away from ideologies like that."  ~Assemblyman Steven Choi

Assemblyman Steven Choi, a Republican from Irvine who was born in South Korea, said he opposed the measure because it would “legalize racism and sexism.” Choi went on to say "I do not want to live in a state where the color of my skin or my race or my sex or my national origin determines my qualifications for a position, a job or entering to a college,” he said. “I came here to this country to get away from ideologies like that.” The Assembly voted 58-9 to let voters decide whether to repeal the amendment. If the state Senate concurs by June 25, the question would be added to the November…

SACRAMENTO - Assemblyman Steven Choi (R-Irvine) today announced that his measure, Assembly Bill 2494, which seeks to have the California State Universities (CSU) and Universities of California (UC) recognize veterans training and experience for college credit, passed through the Assembly Appropriations Committee and is being sent to the Assembly Floor for a vote. “I am thankful for the committee’s judgement to pass this important legislation for veterans,” said Choi. “Our system, far out paced by the private sector, fails to recognize veterans who were trained in management, marketing,…

Recession, economic downturns and hard times are no stranger to many of us in California. For the younger, the years surrounding 2009 and the recession stand as a reminder of those times, others might remember hard times from years past, like the gas shortages of the 1970s. This past week the governor issued and made public his budget for our great state, trying to address the economic recession that was caused by COVID-19 and the shutdown of almost every activity in California.

The world has changed dramatically in the last few months. Since the first American case of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported on January 19th, there have been nearly 375,000 confirmed cases[1]  and more than 12,000 deaths in the U.S. By the time you’re reading this, tragically, those numbers will have undoubtedly increased. Many of us are afraid for our health and safety. That fear -- along with the need to comply with our shelter in place order -- has led Californians to stock up on essential items such as toilet paper and cleaning wipes. In the face of this public health crisis, no…

Being an American, blessed to live in such an amazing country, has many benefits that most take for granted that others in the world envy. One of these benefits stems from our geographical location on this earth, and the fact that most of the world’s conflicts and wars have been fought on distance shores and foreign lands. Our soldiers, our heroes, leave home and travel far away to protect our way of life. Things like war and attacks rarely reach our shores, and when they do, they are kept relatively isolated. So it is common place in our isolated society to honor our heroes, who travel half…

LOS ANGELES (CNS) - An Orange County assemblyman today unveiled legislation to make military Survivor's Benefits tax-exempt in California, while three Southland senators announced a bill that would exempt military retirement pay from the state income tax. ``It is absolutely wrong that California taxes the meager financial support provided to the surviving spouses and children of our nation's heroes,'' said Assemblyman Steven Choi, R-Irvine. ``California is one of only two states that taxes this support as income.''

SACRAMENTO - Assemblyman Steven Choi (R-Irvine) today announced that he introduced legislation to make military Survivor’s Benefits tax exempt in California. “It is absolutely wrong that California taxes the meager financial support provided to the surviving spouses and children of our nation’s heroes,” said Choi. “California is one of only two states that taxes this support as income.” AB 2380 simply makes support derived from Survivor’s Benefits tax-exempt income within California. Specifically, the bill protects the 29,855 children and spouses that are currently in California, have lost…