No Sales Tax Exemption for Clean Tech Manufacturing As Yet

On March 24, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed legislation he touted as creating a sales tax exemption for purchases of green tech manufacturing equipment.

“(This bill) will expand our clean tech industry and bring the green jobs and businesses we need to rebuild California’s economy,” the GOP governor said at the bill signing.    Read more »

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Jeez-Louise, Nero, No Joke, It’s Time to Ixnay the Iddlefay

Neither the Senate nor the Assembly took any action during their April 15 floor sessions to address California’s estimated $20 billion budget shortfall.

The Senate sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a bill to ban smoking at state parks and beaches.

In the lower house, a ceremony was conducted to commemorate and condemn the Armenian Genocide of 1915 which the Hai call “The Great Crime.”    Read more »

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Ban on Smoking in State Parks and Beaches Sent to Governor If Signed, California Would Be the First State To Impose One

On a largely party-line vote, the California state Senate on April 15 sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger one of the most sweeping smoking bans in the country, outlawing smoking at state parks and beaches.

The measure, SB 4, by Sen. Jenny Oropeza, a Long Beach Democrat, would impose a $100 fine on those who smoke cigars, cigarettes or other tobacco products at California’s 279 state parks and beaches.    Read more »

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Speaking of Bipartisanship: Who Wrote Whose Press Release?

(Editor’s Note: As expected, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed the first California federal tax conformity bill in five years. Here’s how the bill’s author, Sen. Lois Wolk, a Davis Democrat and the GOP governor portrayed the action. The 80-odd page legislation has a large number of other provisions.)

Governor signs Wolk tax relief bill

Bill prevents onerous taxation of debt forgiveness and renewable energy grants

SACRAMENTO— Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed into law Senate Bill 401, a measure by Senator Lois Wolk (D-Davis) to provide tax relief to California homeowners engaged in short sales or loan modifications, and exempting federal renewable energy grants from taxation.     Read more »

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And From the “Nero, Stop Sawing on That Damn Fiddle” File

The Legislature’s most significant action April 8 was to send Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger the first federal tax conformity bill in five years.

Contained in its 80-pages are numerous tax code changes ranging from boosting penalties for understating liability to treatment of self-created musical works. The most significant provisions in SB 401 by Sen.    Read more »

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Bill Would Exempt Under-age Drinkers from Prosecution If They Are First to Call 9-1-1 and Stay Until Help Arrives

Under-age drinkers who report a medical emergency would avoid prosecution if a measure approved April 5 by the state Assembly becomes law.

To avoid being charged, a person under the age of 21 must call 9-1-1 and report “in good faith” that another person under the age of 21 needs medical attention because of drinking alcohol.    Read more »

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Committee Approves Bill on California Condor Carrion

New rules for feeding the Golden State’s wild California condors were unanimously approved March 23 by the Assembly Committee on Water, Parks and Wildlife.

Among the requirements, give North America’s largest bird only euthanized livestock killed with non-lead ammunition, animals that die of natural causes and wildlife killed by traffic.

Although 87 condors ply the skies of California – up from 22 in 1982 – they need help finding food, supporters of the state’s condor recovery program say, because young condors, particularly those raised in captivity, don’t know where to find food on their own.    Read more »

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Assembly Fails to Pass State Parks and Beaches Smoking Ban

One of the most sweeping smoking bans in the country, which would ban smoking at state parks and beaches, fell five votes short of passage in the state Assembly March 18.

The measure, SB 4, would impose a $100 fine on those who smoke cigars, cigarettes or other tobacco products at California’s 279 state parks and beaches.     Read more »

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Legislation to End State Furloughs Sooner Is Sent to Governor

On a bipartisan vote, legislation ending furloughs for state workers in departments that aren’t paid out of California’s cash-starved general fund was sent to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger by the Senate on March 8.

The measure, SBX8 29, was sent to the GOP governor on a 27 to 7 vote by the 40-member upper house.    Read more »

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Signature Uncertain on Transportation Financing Proposal

The Legislature sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on March 4 a complicated transportation-financing scheme that eliminates the sales tax on gasoline but increases the excise tax on it.

A spokeswoman for the GOP governor said Schwarzenegger hadn’t decided to sign the measures because lawmakers sent no legislation to help create jobs.

“Two months ago in his State of the State (speech), the governor said job creation must be our Number One priority,” said Rachel Arrezola, Schwarzenegger’s chief deputy press secretary.    Read more »

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