Beating a Dead Horse: Isn’t News Her Not Backing the Ban?

Author of Bag Ban Bill Hails Los Angeles County’s Approval of Bag Ban

LOS ANGELES—Assemblywoman Julia Brownley, D-Santa Monica, hailed today’s vote by Los Angeles County to ban single-use bags as a significant victory toward a statewide prohibition on one of the biggest sources of pollution in California.

“This is just the beginning of a wave of bans against single-use plastic bags across California,” Assemblymember Brownley said.    Read more »

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State’s Search for a Cure for Homosexuality Is Officially Over

Among the measures signed into law By Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this year is elimination of a 60-year-old requirement that what’s now called the Department of Mental Health investigate the “causes and cures of homosexuality.”

The bill, AB 2199, is sponsored by Equality California who says the measure’s aim is to remove from state statute a mischaracterization that institutionalizes bigotry against gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender persons.    Read more »

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Californians Can Keep Buying Kangaroo for Another Five Years

A good day for California soccer players and a bad day for kangaroos as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has extended the state law allowing the importation of dead kangaroo parts.

While the state prohibits the importing of products made from various exotic dead animals, an exemption was created for kangaroo in 2007.    Read more »

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No Electronic Cigarettes for Minors In California — For Now

Sales of electronic cigarettes to minors are illegal in California under legislation signed by Gov Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The measure is a follow-up to legislation last year vetoed by the GOP governor that sought to ban all California sales of the battery-powered devices that look like cigarettes and deliver a vaporized liquid to the user

The “smoke” comes in various flavors such as mint, orange, coffee, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry that the author of the legislation, Sen.    Read more »

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Tax Check-Offs Signed into Law Will Have to Wait for Space

The Police Activities League, state veterans homes and the California Arts Council all will get a voluntary check-off slot on state tax forms – some day anyway – under legislation signed into law by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The GOP governor vetoed a fourth check-off that would cover the costs of a proposed California Youth Legislature.    Read more »

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Governor Vetoes Bill To Give Preference to California Workers

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 967 without my signature.

This bill would provide a 5 percent bid preference if 90 percent of a business’ employees performing work on a state contract exceeding $1 million are California residents. This bill also specifies that agencies accepting proposals for the distribution of funds pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provide a 5 percent bid preference, regardless of contract amount.    Read more »

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Seems Like News Would Be Putting More on the Streets

September 27, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Keep Drunk Drivers Off the Street

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed AB 1601 by Assemblymember Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), which authorizes judges to revoke, for up to ten years, the license of any person convicted of three or more DUIs in a 10-year period.    Read more »

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Democratic Majority Senate OKs Timber Industry backed Bill

It’s a rarity when the timber industry gets measures it supports through the Democratic majority Legislature but that’s what happened in the 40-member Senate August 18 on a bipartisan 32 to 1 vote.

The bill, awaiting action by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, deals with timber harvest plans, which are required by the state prior to commercial logging.    Read more »

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Preference for Bidders Using California Workers Is Weighed

Companies using California workers would get a 5 percent preference when bidding on state contracts under legislation awaiting action by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The measure is a classic business versus labor face-off with unions backing the bill – California Labor Federation is the sponsor – and businesses, led by the state Chamber of Commerce, opposing it.    Read more »

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Rod Wright Pleads Not Guilty to Felony Charges That He Allegedly Doesn’t Live In the Senate District He Represents

LOS ANGELES — State Sen. Roderick Wright, an Inglewood Democrat, pleaded not guilty September 16 in Superior Court to eight felony charges of not living in the district he was elected to represent.

Wright, 58, was indicted September 13 on charges of perjury by declaration, filing false declaration of candidacy and fraudulent voting.    Read more »

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