Newly sworn in State Senator Joel Anderson continues fight to protect taxpayers issued IOU's from State

Shortly after being sworn-in as the State Senator for the 36th District, Senator Joel Anderson picked up right where he left off in the Assembly and introduced legislation to protect Californians who have been directly impacted by state-issued IOUs.

“Californians should not be punished for the state’s mismanagement,” said Senator Joel Anderson (R-El Cajon). “It is absurd for the state to issue fines and penalties on an individual or business who received state issued IOUs. I want to help law-abiding citizens continue to pay their taxes on time. ”

Anderson added, “This legislation will protect struggling Californians from further damage caused by the state’s excessive borrowing.”

Specifically, Senate Bill 11 would prohibit a state entity from assessing a fine, interest, or penalty, based on a debt a citizen owes to the state if that citizen received an IOU.

In 2009, California sent out more than 448,000 IOUs exceeding $2 billion to taxpayers. In the Assembly that year, Anderson introduced a similar taxpayer protection measure – Assembly Bill 1506 – which received broad bi-partisan support including Democrat State Controller John Chiang.

Given Anderson’s long-standing record of fighting for taxpayers, voters of San Diego and Riverside counties elected him to represent them in the State Senate on November 2.

Surrounded by his wife Kate, son Michael and extended family members, Senator Anderson was sworn-in by California Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald George in the state capitol on December 6.