Air Board Approves AB32 Scoping Plan

Ignoring criticism from economic experts and the Legislative Analyst’s Office, the California Air Resources Board has unanimously adopted a plan to create the country’s most aggressive assault on greenhouse gas emissions.

(Editor’s Note: See post below for more information.)    Read more »

More

AB 32 Scoping Plan “Biased” and “Incomplete,” Outside Reviewers Say

The state’s economic analysis justifying a multi-billion plan to sharply reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the next 12 years is “flawed,” “biased,” as well as underestimates costs and overstates savings, according to six economists who critiqued the proposal. 

A separate assessment by the Legislative Analyst published Nov. 17, concluded that the California Air Resources Board’s AB 32 Scoping Plan contains an “inconsistent” and “incomplete” evaluation of costs and savings and fails to prove that by 2020 implementing the plan would create a slight economic benefit for the state.     Read more »

More

Septic Snafu

California’s Water Resources Control Board is trying to adopt regulations aimed at cleaning up the state’s 1.2 million septic tanks.  

It has been trying to adopt the regulations since the fall of 2000. 

Even after eight years, realtors, rural homeowners and local officials continue to complain that the regulations are costly and too cookie-cutter to appreciate local or regional differences.      Read more »

More

The Greening of Napa Valley

Mrs. Lucas and I recently spent the night at the Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa. The hotel is the world’s first and, to date, only LEED Gold-certified hotel. 

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. It is a set of environmentally friendly, so-called green building standards created by the aptly named United States Green Building Council.    Read more »

More

High School Exit Exam Question

Using the information below, please answer the following three questions: 

California has 120 legislators and 12 statewide officeholders. 

Despite legislative district lines drawn to protect incumbents, these public officials routinely host fund-raisers — events designed to solicit money to pay for the re-election of the elected official.   

1. How long would it take 132 state public officials to hold 29 fundraising events?     Read more »

More

Prescription Drug Imbroglio Redux

In case you missed it in reputable publications, the Board of Pharmacy at their March 5 meeting in San Diego postponed implemention of ePedigree from January 1, 2009 until 2011. 

 Technology wasn’t quite up to snuff to handle what the board wanted to accomplish.

 The coalition of pharmacists, makers of generic and name-brand drugs, clinics, hospitals and animal health providers seeking the postponement rejoices.    Read more »

More

Prescription Drug Imbroglio

Prescription drug makers, pharmacists and major retailers will ask the state Board of Pharmacy on March 25 to postpone the effective date of a law aimed at preventing counterfeit drugs by electronically tracking every bottle.

The board says the new system is needed to stem a rising amount of counterfeit drugs, which the World Health Organization estimates represent less than 1 percent of the market in developed countries.     Read more »

More

Shasta Dam Politics

The battle over the future of Shasta Dam surfaced this afternoon in the Assembly Governmental Organization committee in the form of joint resolution urging the federal government to reaffirm recognition of an Indian tribe along the McCloud River. 

The Winnemem Wintu tribe, a dozen of whose members attended the hearing in native garb, opposes raising the dam on Lake Shasta which would inundate more of their holy places along the middle fork of the McCloud River, many of which were lost when the dam was completed in 1945.     Read more »

More