Jim Battin
Encyclopedia
James Franklin Battin is a former California State Senator
for District 37
, which includes much of Riverside County
in the inland part of Southern California. Prior to serving in the State Senate, Battin served in the California State Assembly
from 1994 until 2000. Battin was term limited from the Senate in 2008.
. He gained appreciation and respect for nature and the wilderness during his childhood in Montana
. Throughout his youth, Jim was an avid sportsman - backpacking, fishing and hunting regularly.
Battin is the son of five-term Congress
man and then U.S. District Court Judge James Franklin Battin
. Battin spent some of the early years of his life in Washington, D.C.
where he was introduced to politics at a very young age. Battin often played in then-Congressman Gerald Ford
's backyard, and Battin knew Bob Dole
as one of his father's congressional freshman classmates. When Battin was just six, he accompanied his father to brunch at the White House
, where he met President Richard Nixon
.
Battin attended the University of Oregon
, where he earned a degree in psychology
. In college, he met and later married his wife Mary. They now have three children; Christopher, Bailey, and Kelsey.
television affiliate in Palm Desert
. During this time Battin also began his long "career" as a community volunteer, most notably as the driving force behind 'Bringing Home the Holidays', the largest food donation program in the Coachella Valley
at the time. He also became a board member of Martha's Kitchen, a meal-distribution program for those in need, and participated in the Youth Education Motivation Program, where business people share with students their "secrets of success in the world of work." Battin also was active in Junior Achievement, working with his wife to instill the entrepreneurial spirit in elementary school children.
, District 80, in 1994. He defeated one term incumbent Julie Bornstein who, according to the California Political Almanac, was on the fast track to be Assembly Speaker Willie Brown
's successor. He ran on a platform that included government reform and accountability. In 1994, Battin was named Caucus Whip for the new Republican majority in the Assembly. The next year he became the Majority Caucus Chairman, and served within the leadership ranks of his caucus. As Caucus Chair, Battin directed Republican policy strategy, floor operations, managed the caucus and kept members informed about legislation.
As a member of the Assembly, he passed laws to increase penalties for chronic drunk drivers and co-authored historic legislation that is helping steer welfare recipients into full-time jobs, easing county caseloads. He also supported measures to increase the number of computers in California classrooms. AB2219, the "21st Century California Classrooms Act," will create special tax credits for companies who donate computer equipment to public and private schools. Designed to help introduce California students to new skills and the Internet, the bill is similar to federal legislation passed the year before.
Battin's goals are to streamline government regulations and to reduce taxes to improve the competitiveness of California businesses. Throughout his legislative career, Battin has fought to defend Proposition 13, support tax cuts for individuals, families and businesses while never voting for higher taxes.
Battin has advocated allowing federal-reformulated gasoline into California to reduce gas prices. Battin helped craft a long-term solutions to our energy supply.
Battin has worked to improve public safety. In 2004, a 10-year push by Battin come to fruition with the passage of the Online Megan's Law
database. Battin is also pushing to add other categories of criminals, like child pornographers, to the database. Battin authored legislation to prohibit convicted child molesters from being paroled near elementary schools. He introduced SB 33 to ensure that the state's incest loophole is closed and that family members who molest children are treated under the law the same as other predators.
Battin authored legislation to expand California's class size reduction program into the 7th and 8th grades. Battin also has helped bring more resources to Riverside County schools. He helped bring $4 million in ADA "equalization" funds to local schools and $600,000 for a community college library. He even received the "Golden Apple Award" from a local school district for his work on behalf of "small school" funding.
California State Senate
The California State Senate is the upper house of the California State Legislature. There are 40 state senators. The state legislature meets in the California State Capitol in Sacramento. The Lieutenant Governor is the ex officio President of the Senate and may break a tied vote...
for District 37
California's 37th State Senate district
California's 37th State Senate District is one of 40 Senate Districts. It is currently represented by Bill Emmerson of Hemet.-District profile:...
, which includes much of Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
in the inland part of Southern California. Prior to serving in the State Senate, Battin served in the California State Assembly
California State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
from 1994 until 2000. Battin was term limited from the Senate in 2008.
Early years
Battin was born and raised in Billings, MontanaBillings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
. He gained appreciation and respect for nature and the wilderness during his childhood in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
. Throughout his youth, Jim was an avid sportsman - backpacking, fishing and hunting regularly.
Battin is the son of five-term Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
man and then U.S. District Court Judge James Franklin Battin
James Franklin Battin
James Franklin Battin was a Republican U.S. Representative from the U.S. state of Montana, and later a United States federal judge....
. Battin spent some of the early years of his life in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
where he was introduced to politics at a very young age. Battin often played in then-Congressman Gerald Ford
Gerald Ford
Gerald Rudolph "Jerry" Ford, Jr. was the 38th President of the United States, serving from 1974 to 1977, and the 40th Vice President of the United States serving from 1973 to 1974...
's backyard, and Battin knew Bob Dole
Bob Dole
Robert Joseph "Bob" Dole is an American attorney and politician. Dole represented Kansas in the United States Senate from 1969 to 1996, was Gerald Ford's Vice Presidential running mate in the 1976 presidential election, and was Senate Majority Leader from 1985 to 1987 and in 1995 and 1996...
as one of his father's congressional freshman classmates. When Battin was just six, he accompanied his father to brunch at the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
, where he met President Richard Nixon
Richard Nixon
Richard Milhous Nixon was the 37th President of the United States, serving from 1969 to 1974. The only president to resign the office, Nixon had previously served as a US representative and senator from California and as the 36th Vice President of the United States from 1953 to 1961 under...
.
Education
In high school, Battin competed on the school's debate team - ranking third in the state his junior year and winning the state championship his senior year, qualifying him for the National Championship, in which he competed.Battin attended the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
, where he earned a degree in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
. In college, he met and later married his wife Mary. They now have three children; Christopher, Bailey, and Kelsey.
Move to Riverside County and TV
The Battins moved to Riverside County in 1985. Battin worked as a television executive for 10 years with KMIR-TV, the NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television affiliate in Palm Desert
Palm Desert, California
Palm Desert is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, in the Coachella Valley, approximately east of Palm Springs. The population was 48,445 at the 2010 census, up from 41,155 at the 2000 census...
. During this time Battin also began his long "career" as a community volunteer, most notably as the driving force behind 'Bringing Home the Holidays', the largest food donation program in the Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley
Coachella Valley is a large valley landform in Southern California. The valley extends for approximately 45 miles in Riverside County southeast from the San Bernardino Mountains to the saltwater Salton Sea, the largest lake in California...
at the time. He also became a board member of Martha's Kitchen, a meal-distribution program for those in need, and participated in the Youth Education Motivation Program, where business people share with students their "secrets of success in the world of work." Battin also was active in Junior Achievement, working with his wife to instill the entrepreneurial spirit in elementary school children.
State Assembly
Battin was elected to the California State AssemblyCalifornia State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
, District 80, in 1994. He defeated one term incumbent Julie Bornstein who, according to the California Political Almanac, was on the fast track to be Assembly Speaker Willie Brown
Willie Brown (politician)
Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. is an American politician of the Democratic Party. He served over 30 years in the California State Assembly, spending 15 years as its Speaker, and afterward served as the 41st mayor of San Francisco, the first African American to do so...
's successor. He ran on a platform that included government reform and accountability. In 1994, Battin was named Caucus Whip for the new Republican majority in the Assembly. The next year he became the Majority Caucus Chairman, and served within the leadership ranks of his caucus. As Caucus Chair, Battin directed Republican policy strategy, floor operations, managed the caucus and kept members informed about legislation.
As a member of the Assembly, he passed laws to increase penalties for chronic drunk drivers and co-authored historic legislation that is helping steer welfare recipients into full-time jobs, easing county caseloads. He also supported measures to increase the number of computers in California classrooms. AB2219, the "21st Century California Classrooms Act," will create special tax credits for companies who donate computer equipment to public and private schools. Designed to help introduce California students to new skills and the Internet, the bill is similar to federal legislation passed the year before.
State Senate
Battin was elected to the Senate in 2000. In the Senate, Battin served as the Vice-Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee and currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Senate Rules Committee.Battin's goals are to streamline government regulations and to reduce taxes to improve the competitiveness of California businesses. Throughout his legislative career, Battin has fought to defend Proposition 13, support tax cuts for individuals, families and businesses while never voting for higher taxes.
Battin has advocated allowing federal-reformulated gasoline into California to reduce gas prices. Battin helped craft a long-term solutions to our energy supply.
Battin has worked to improve public safety. In 2004, a 10-year push by Battin come to fruition with the passage of the Online Megan's Law
Megan's Law
Megan's Law is an informal name for laws in the United States requiring law enforcement authorities to make information available to the public regarding registered sex offenders. Individual states decide what information will be made available and how it should be disseminated...
database. Battin is also pushing to add other categories of criminals, like child pornographers, to the database. Battin authored legislation to prohibit convicted child molesters from being paroled near elementary schools. He introduced SB 33 to ensure that the state's incest loophole is closed and that family members who molest children are treated under the law the same as other predators.
Battin authored legislation to expand California's class size reduction program into the 7th and 8th grades. Battin also has helped bring more resources to Riverside County schools. He helped bring $4 million in ADA "equalization" funds to local schools and $600,000 for a community college library. He even received the "Golden Apple Award" from a local school district for his work on behalf of "small school" funding.