In The News

Removing guns from people who shouldn’t have them should be a no brainer, right?

April 18, 2022
In 2001, California’s Legislature passed a groundbreaking, bipartisan measure, intending to do just that, creating the Armed Prohibited Persons System. APPS identifies individuals who purchased firearms legally, then became prohibited from owning them due to criminal activity, mental illness or...

Senators Nielsen and Borgeas CalMatters Guest Commentary: With budget surplus, now is the time to fund vital water projects

February 1, 2022
Senators Nielsen and Borgeas introduced Senate Bill 890 to fund critical water infrastructure projects.

Senator Nielsen: "The initiative, referendum and recall are about the people being in control."

December 9, 2021
Senator Nielsen speaks out about the importance of Californian's recall process at a Joint Hearing of the Senate Elections and Constitutional Amendments and Assembly Elections Committees on "reforming" the recall process at the State Capitol.

California Crime Laws Invite Looting Behavior

November 23, 2021
“The people who promoted this, they ran an absolutely deceptive campaign. Now, we are paying the price,” said state Sen. Jim Nielsen, a Republican. “This invited the very behavior that we now see. Criminals have now perfected this imperfect law to exploit the victims — which includes all of us.”

Looters Terrorizing California

November 23, 2021
“Leaders in California, for the most part, are ignoring this tragedy — they are ignoring it,” state Sen. Jim Nielsen told the Washington Examiner.

ICYMI: Senator Nielsen’s viewpoint in the Sacramento Bee on the need to build large above-ground water storage in California.

July 27, 2021
The state has failed to invest appropriately in large, statewide surface-water storage and conveyance, leaving California ill-prepared for drought conditions and jeopardizing its environmental and fiscal health.

California Legislature passes sham, placeholder budget

June 16, 2021
The California Legislature passed a budget on Monday, but it was just a self-serving charade because there are still issues to be settled.

LA Times: Legislative lawyers suggest Gov. Jerry Brown's interpretation of a long-standing state spending limit is wrong

May 24, 2017
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle raised concerns Tuesday that Gov. Jerry Brown’s state budget plan relies on a faulty calculation of a spending limit imposed by voters in 1979.

LA Times: Frustrated with campus discourse limits, California Republicans take on 'free speech zones'

May 24, 2017
In the realm of political odd couples, state Sen. Jim Nielsen of Gerber and aspiring public interest lawyer Nicolas Tomas may be among the oddest. Tomas, a 26-year-old Democrat, is a promoter of the vegan lifestyle. Nielsen, a 72-year-old Republican, is a cattleman and dairyman by trade.

Dan Walters: California GOP makes rare plea for more spending

December 14, 2015
Sacramento Bee - “Increased access to care should be a budget priority,” said Sen. Jim Nielsen, R-Gerber, co-author of the bill. “Nearly 50 years ago, the state made a promise through the Lanterman Act that children and adults with developmental disabilities would be cared for. The promise should...