This can't be good for the term limits measure. Every organization, club, and importantly, newspaper is talking about how terribly unproductive this session was. Sure, the Assembly alone sent 583 bills to the governor's desk, but numbers alone rarely make anybody happy. There was no signature big-name legislation. Healthcare reform was stymied (AB 8 is DOA), and so we get a special session. It's kinda like calling “Do Over!” or something.
But, I'll just go through and link to as many of the articles about the end of session as I can. Flippio.
LA Times: Partisanship keeps grip on Capitol: Begins with a dig on the “post-partisan” Governor, and then pivots to the “ideoligical divides” in the Capitol. And to top that off, there was this quote (in reference to the prison capacity issue): “Even when lawmakers did reach agreements, they were often inadequate.” Ouch!
Sac Bee, “Pathetic session ends at last”: “After an eight-month session marked mainly by indolence, infighting and ineptitude, the 2007 version of the California Legislature has gone home.” And it only goes down-hill from there. Steve Wiegand noted the GOP caucus’ common position for bills: “Triple Star Oppose”. OOooh, that will really show them. Is there a triple star no vote?
OC Register: “Legislature divided to end”: Again, not so friendly to the Legislature. It starts by poking the Governor in the eye about his “different kind of Sacramento” and “post-partisan” hooey. And what did Sen. Ackerman think? Well, he was just pumped that nothing happens. It seems Ackerman despises progress.
San Diego U-T: “Legislature’s session ends in rush of bills”: Hey, the lead wasn’t so bad in this one, as the story began about how there was a flurry of bills passed as the session closed. Oh, but then it went on to talk about how the Speaker was trying to sell the Legislature’s productivity, but the budget stalemate took too much time. Oh, and the Speaker really, really hopes for a major accomplishment from the special session.
SJ Merc, “Hopes for major achievement dashed as California legislature wraps up”: This story used a lost opportunities theme. And then, it finished off the story talking about the possible wasted political capital by passing the tribal compacts.
Fresno Bee, “California Legislature ends regular session without a bang”: Sen. Florez said the session went out with a “whimper.” And the story does its best to confirm that.
There are plenty of more stories throughout the media, but, well, that’s enough time reading all those depressing stories. You have to think that it’s desperation time on finding some sort of solution for healthcare so that the legislators can show some sort of accomplishment before the February term limits vote.
The LA Times published a great list of some of the bills passed in the legislative session concluded last week. And, hey, look Gil Cedillo got his driver’s license bill passed again! (SB 1162) Some interesting bills that you might have missed in the extended.
Eminent domain: Bill would provide property owners with notice and an opportunity to respond before a court can grant a local government possession of private property (SB 1210 by Sen. Tom Torlakson, D-Antioch). Another bill would require redevelopment agencies to specify when, how and where they can use eminent domain authority and would allow such agencies to ban the condemnation of residential property. (SB 53 by Sen. Christine Kehoe, D-San Diego)
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Initiatives: Bill would require an initiative, referendum or recall petition to indicate whether it is being circulated by a paid or volunteer signature-gatherer and to also list the five largest contributors in support of the measure being circulated. Schwarzenegger vetoed a similar bill last year (SB 1598 by Sen. Debra Bowen, D-Marina del Rey). Another bill would make it a misdemeanor to pay initiative signature-gatherers based on the number of signatures they collect and make it illegal for signature-gatherers to misrepresent the contents of an initiative (AB 2946 by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco)
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Pay equity: Bill would increase penalties against employers who pay an employee less based on gender to up to four times the balance of the wages due the aggrieved employee. (AB 2555 by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach)
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Public records: Bill would allow the public to get public records via computer and allow citizens to appeal to the attorney general when state or local agencies deny their requests for records. (AB 2927 by Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco) (LA Times 9/3/06)
Check out the full article for more.
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