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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Responding to federal inaction over immigration reform, California Democrats on Tuesday announced a package of 10 bills that would extend health care, legal rights and business protection to immigrants who are illegally living in the state.

Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins, D-San Diego, and Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de Leon, D-Los Angeles, led the majority party's push to expand health coverage to all Californians, regardless of their immigration status, although they are not proposing any funding to pay for the extensions.

"Today we remind the rest of the nation that California is different," de Leon said at a news conference in Sacramento attended by immigrant-rights advocates and families with members in the country illegally.

Atkins acknowledged there was only so much the state can do because immigration is a federal issue. "This is not easy," she said.

The package includes help for California's estimated 2.5 million immigrants in the country illegally to apply for legal status if they have been a victim of a crime and assistance for the recent surge of immigrant children crossing the border to stay in the country.

Another bill bans businesses from discriminating against people on the basis of their immigration status, citizenship or language. Other bills seek to establish a state agency to help newly arrived immigrants, protect immigrants from unscrupulous employers and extend legal protections to avoid detention and deportation, according to a written summary of the legislation.

Democrats who control the governor's office and both chambers of the Legislature have said they want to find ways for immigrants to come out of the state's economic shadows. The 10 bills were previously introduced, but they were touted Tuesday by supporters for advancing immigrants' rights.

Senate Minority Leader Bob Huff, R-Diamond Bar, questioned the costs.

"We understand the burdens facing immigrants who want to go to work and raise their families in safe neighborhoods, and the rationale behind these bills is admirable," Huff said. "But without money from Congress and President Obama, it will be very difficult and costly for California taxpayers to fund all of these bill proposals."

California this year began issuing driver's licenses to immigrants who are in the country illegally, and the Department of Motor Vehicles has already received a half-million applications. California is also one of several states to adopt the Dream Act, which permits college financial aid for top students seeking citizenship.

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Democrats push healthcare, legal rights for undocumented immigrants

Maajid Nawaz - Liberal Democrats - Hampstead and Kilburn Candidate Hustings 2015
Liberal Democrat candidate for Hampstead and Kilburn, Maajid Nawaz, talks about juggling his various other high profile roles with that of being a constituency MP if elected, gives his view...

By: Samuel Hooper

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Maajid Nawaz - Liberal Democrats - Hampstead and Kilburn Candidate Hustings 2015 - Video

North Dakota Democrats called on the governor Monday to issue an executive order to provide state employees protection from discrimination based on sexual orientation. Republican Gov. Jack Dalrymple's response was that such protections are already in place.

All 38 members of the Democratic-NPL Party legislative caucus signed and sent a letter Monday to Dalrymple. The move, in support of state employees, follows last weeks defeat of a bill that would have banned such discrimination statewide.

A strong showing of support for non-discrimination and equality by the top-ranking official in state government would send a message to the rest of the country that North Dakota is open and welcoming to all individuals who are willing to work hard to make better lives for themselves and their families, the letter said.

Members of Dalrymples staff said an executive order mandating all cabinet-level agencies to provide equal treatment of employees was signed by Republican Gov. Allen Olson in 1981 and was reaffirmed early last year by Dalrymple.

The same executive order was referenced in the Democrats letter; Democratic officials said clarification is needed to ensure protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender employees.

On Thursday, the House killed Senate Bill 2279, which would have banned discrimination based on sexual orientation in the workplace, housing and government services. The bill died by a 35-56 vote following an emotional floor debate. Opponents of the bill successfully argued it would create a special class and negatively impact people who are acting on a deeply held religious belief.

Following the bills failure, Dalrymple released a short statement expressing support for protections for the states LGBT community.

Jeff Zent, a spokesman for Dalrymple, said a memo was sent to cabinet-level state agencies Monday morning reminding agency heads of the administrations policy on discrimination.

He reminded all cabinet agencies to hire employees and retain employees based on performance, Zent said. He opposes all forms of discrimination.

The 1981 order mandated that heads of all cabinet-level agencies provide fair, equitable and uniform treatment to all classified employees. Zent said Dalrymple reaffirmed the order Feb. 25, 2014.

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Democrats push governor for LGBT protections

The fissures between Florida Democrats and their party's more liberal wing were exposed Monday when a progressive group said Rep. Alan Grayson of Orlando would be a better Senate contender than the only big-name Democrat who has already declared his candidacy, Rep. Patrick Murphy of Jupiter.

In a conference call with reporters, the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida said Grayson had been the preferred candidate among members in an unscientific poll.

"We've seen a real fight in Alan Grayson that we think is needed," said Susan Smith, the group's chairwoman.

Grayson is known as a liberal firebrand, while Murphy, who ousted Republican Allen West in 2012, is a centrist who at times has sided with Republicans (notably in supporting the Keystone XL pipeline).

"When he talks about Social Security and Medicare, Patrick Murphy sounds often sounds more like Paul Ryan than Elizabeth Warren," lamented Nancy Jacobson, a Democratic National Committee member from Orange County.

"Most of the time, he doesn't act like a Democrat at all," added Ernest Ciarrocchi of the South Shore Democratic Club.

National Democrats appear keen on Murphy's chances of winning in purple Florida if, as expected, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio announces a presidential bid next week.

But Smith argued a Democratic nominee will need the help of an excited base already disenchanted by last year's failed candidacy by Charlie Crist for governor. Crist was once a Republican. So was Murphy. Both their Democratic candidacies point to the party's slim Florida bench -- and to the fact that despite progressives' pleas, moderates know the liberal base is more likely to vote for them than for a Republican.

Smith and other progressives made repeated mention of liberal hero Warren, the Massachusetts senator, and derided "Wall Street Democrats." There was no mention of the pragmatist Hillary Clinton, the party's likely presidential nominee, who could face a similar enthusiasm gap as Murphy if party activists don't feel drawn to her eventual campaign.

A Grayson campaign is hardly certain, however. Smith insisted her group intends for there to be a "strong primary."

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Liberal Democrats want Grayson over Murphy

Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland is ahead of Sen. Rob Portman (R) by nine points in a new Quinnipiac University poll out today, a result that has to make Democrats eyeing the possibility of retaking the Senate in 2016 very, very happy.

Strickland stands at 48 percent to 39 percent for Portman, who, after stints in the House and the Bush administration, is in the midst of his first Senate term. Strickland's lead is built almost exclusively on an 18-point edge over Portman among independents although he also wins a larger portion of self-identified Democrats (85 percent) than Portman does among Republicans (79 percent).

Why is this poll such good news for Democrats? Because it makes clear that Ohio is very much in play with Strickland as their nominee (the former governor still faces a primary from Cincinnati City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld). That makes the 2016 playing field a seat bigger, giving Democrats more margin for error as they try to win back the four (if a Democrat wins the White House) or five (if he/she but really she doesn't) seats they need to reclaim the majority.

As I wrote in a Senate analysis back in February:

Yes, Republicans such as Sen. Mark Kirk (Ill.) and Sen. Ron Johnson (Wis.) are in a tenuous position to win second terms. But beyond that, there are no races that today you would call 50-50. Sure, Pennsylvania is a Democratic state, but Sen. Patrick J. Toomey is an able candidate, andDemocrats are down on the prospect of a rerun from former congressman Joe Sestak. Sens. Kelly Ayotte (N.H.), Roy Blunt (Mo.), Rob Portman (Ohio), Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Richard Burr (N.C.) are all relatively young and have faced real races in the not-too-distant past. Yes, they sit in swing (or Democratic-leaning) states, but none of them are underdogs (or even close) yet.

Now, this is ONE poll and the first one from a credible organization we've seen in this race. Do I think Portman, one of the most able politicians in the Senate, is going to lose to Strickland by nine points? I don't. In fact, I wouldn't be terribly surprised if the Portman folks leaked out some of their own internal poll numbers showing the senator in much stronger shape in the next few days. For what it's worth, here's what Portman campaign manager Corry Bliss had to say about the poll: This poll shows one thing and one thing only, Ohio is doing so much better since Ted Strickland left office that people forgot what an awful governor he was."

But, the combination of the ballot test, Strickland's terrific favorable/unfavorable ratings (49 percent favorable/29 percent unfavorable) and the relative anonymity of Portman (44 percent haven't heard enough about him to offer an opinion) suggest that this is a very real race.

That's a win and a big one this early in the election cycle for Democrats.

Chris Cillizza writes The Fix, a politics blog for the Washington Post. He also covers the White House.

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The Fix: This poll is very good news for Senate Democrats