Gov. Brown Commutes Potential Death Sentence for Boating and Waterways Commission

California’s Credit Union Advisory Committee and the state Boating and Waterways Commission gained at least a temporary reprieve Oct. 3 when Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed legislation that could have eliminated the two.

The Democratic governor objected to one legislative body – the 10-member Joint Sunset Review Committee – making decisions on the size of the executive branch.    Read more »

More

Communication Fundamentals: Know Your Audience; Use Precise Language

The other day Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation that would impose a 1 percent annual fee on the sales of olive trees.

An identical fee is already levied against the sales of fruit trees, nut trees and grapevines which generates $1.4 million to conduct research into ways of improving the vine and tree crop industry.    Read more »

More

The State’s “First Green Industry” Wants to Tax Itself — Gov. Brown Lets Them

 California’s 44 registered renderers got their wish September 26 as Gov. Jerry Brown signed renderer-sponsored legislation to reimpose on themselves a lapsed $3,000 annual regulatory fee. 

The hope is that more revenue will allow the state Food and Agriculture Agency to do a better job preventing thefts of a lucrative part of the rendering industry – inedible kitchen grease.    Read more »

More

A Round of Mango Mojitos on the House: Infusion Is No Longer Rectification!

Gov. Jerry Brown has made California safe for lemoncello lovers and imbibers of Martian Martinis, bacon bourbon, cucumber gin, Bloody Marys tingling with habanero vodka and even Mona Lisa Green Monsters, margaritas infused with medicinal marijuana.

Up until the Democratic governor signed SB 32 on September 21, any cocktails made with “infused” alcohol sold by bars and restaurants violated state law.    Read more »

More

Fingerprints? Recipients and Providers of In-Home Care Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Fingerprints!

More than 400,000 low-income elderly Californians who receive in-home care through the state – and their caregivers — will not need to submit fingerprints to receive the services, under legislation on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

The fingerprinting requirement was approved as part of the budget for the fiscal year that ended June 30, ostensibly to combat “fraud” allegedly occurring in delivering In-Home Supportive Services, the fastest growing social program in the state budget.    Read more »

More

More Voluntary Check-Offs Vie for Space on State Tax Forms

Californians feeling generous on April 15 could kick in for other causes besides sea otters under bills awaiting action by Gov. Jerry Brown adding voluntary check-offs to state tax forms.

On September 1, the Democratic governor signed a bill extending the stay of the Sea Otter Fund on Page Three of the Franchise Tax Board’s Form 540 until 2016.    Read more »

More

Gov. Jerry Brown Torpedoes “Paid Political Signature Gatherer” Badges

Paid signature gathers won’t be required to wear badges identifying them as such, thanks to a veto by Gov. Jerry Brown September 7.

The Democratic governor said the bill was “provocative but ultimately unpersuasive” and could set a bad precedent.

“If it is acceptable to force paid signature gatherers to place identifying badges on their chests, will similar requirements soon be placed on paid campaign workers?”    Read more »

More

Jerry Brown Says: Save California’s Sea Otters, One Tax Check-off At a Time

If they are generous enough, taxpayers will be able to keep helping California sea otters for another five years through voluntary contributions under a new law signed Sept. 1 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The tax check-off, one of 15 on Page 3 of the Franchise Tax Board’s Form 540, automatically expired January 1 under the terms of the legislation creating it in 2006.    Read more »

More

It’s Just a Legislative Letter But the Content Is Concerning

Among the measures approved August 22 as the Legislature hurries to complete its work before it adjourns for 2011 on September 9 was a resolution encouraging President Obama and Congress to keep sending federal dollars to “increase the supply of physicians in California.”

In particular the resolution, which has no force of law, seeks to improve access to care for “Californians in rural areas and members of underrepresented ethnic groups.”    Read more »

More

Comes Now the Scarlet PSG

Paid collectors of signatures to place measures on the California ballot would be required to wear badges (Queue Treasure of the Sierra Madre) under  a bill sent by the Legislature to Gov. Jerry Brown on August 18.

The measure — SB 448 by Sen. Mark DeSaulnier — is aimed at helping “address serious abuses of the initiative process by giving the public critical information they need when signing a petition,” according to the Concord Democrat.    Read more »

More