Links from around the state:<\/p>\n
\u2022 You can say a lot of things about Lynn Woolsey (D-Sonoma), but any description almost certainly includes the words “progressive” and “fighter.” She proves she still embodies those words today, as she was arrested outside of the Sudanese embassy<\/a> after refusing to move while protesting the situation in Darfur. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) were also arrested with her during the protest sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition, the Enough Project and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Woolsey has a long record of fighting for progressive causes, and has fought for civil rights in and out of the US during her long career.<\/p>\n \u2022 We have not discussed the biggest political news of the weekend<\/a>, the adoption by the California Air Resources Board of a low-carbon fuel standard. This news reminds me of California’s adoption of the catalytic converter, which led to the rest of the nation following suit. The same could happen here; but the key question is how the fuel producers will respond. Adding ethanol to the mix would be the wrong road to go down, for example.<\/p>\n \u2022 Anthony Woods<\/a> is getting some good press<\/a> for his run at CA-10.<\/p>\n \u2022 Everybody panic! There have been seven reported cases of swine flu<\/a> in California! Ok, maybe panicking isn’t the best approach, as all seven have fully recovered while only suffering mild flu symptoms. Swine flu is the new SARS.<\/p>\n \u2022 Well, Asm. Alberto Torrico’s anti-lobbying bill<\/a> would surely piss off Jess Unruh. In a clear contradiction to his quote of “if you can’t take their money, drink their whiskey, [sleep with] their women and still look the bastards in the eye and vote against them, you don’t belong [in the legislature].”<\/p>\n \u2022 The Loma Prieta & SF Bay Chapters of the Sierra Club are trying to make fees for building permits for solar installations cheaper<\/a>. Apparently there is a massive price difference across just three counties. For one system, it would cost over $11,000 in Cupertino, but less than $500 in Morgan Hill.<\/p>\n \u2022 Before the convention, a number of noble bills passed the State Senate<\/a>, including protecting tenants when their landlords lose their buildings to foreclosure, and a bill first brought up by Fabian Nunez last year, that would be an Employee Free Choice Act for farmworkers.<\/p>\n \u2022 Yet more problems for the California budget – rich victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, who want refunds for state income tax on money they never received<\/a>, and they have a pretty good point. States – or more likely, the federal government – will probably lose billions on this deal.<\/p>\n \u2022 Joe Matthews thinks Assembly Leaders Bass and Villines might not survive a defeat of the special election<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Links from around the state:<\/p>\n \u2022 You can say a lot of things about Lynn Woolsey (D-Sonoma), but any description almost certainly includes the words “progressive” and “fighter.” She proves she still embodies those words today, as she was arrested outside of the Sudanese embassy<\/a> after refusing to move while protesting the situation in Darfur. Donna Edwards (D-MD), Jim McGovern (D-MA), and Keith Ellison (D-MN) were also arrested with her during the protest sponsored by the Save Darfur Coalition, the Enough Project and the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Woolsey has a long record of fighting for progressive causes, and has fought for civil rights in and out of the US during her long career.<\/p>\n \u2022 We have not discussed the biggest political news of the weekend<\/a>, the adoption by the California Air Resources Board of a low-carbon fuel standard. This news reminds me of California’s adoption of the catalytic converter, which led to the rest of the nation following suit. The same could happen here; but the key question is how the fuel producers will respond. Adding ethanol to the mix would be the wrong road to go down, for example.<\/p>\n \u2022 Anthony Woods<\/a> is getting some good press<\/a> for his run at CA-10.<\/p>\n \u2022 Everybody panic! There have been seven reported cases of swine flu<\/a> in California! Ok, maybe panicking isn’t the best approach, as all seven have fully recovered while only suffering mild flu symptoms. Swine flu is the new SARS.<\/p>\n \u2022 Well, Asm. Alberto Torrico’s anti-lobbying bill<\/a> would surely piss off Jess Unruh. In a clear contradiction to his quote of “if you can’t take their money, drink their whiskey, [sleep with] their women and still look the bastards in the eye and vote against them, you don’t belong [in the legislature].”<\/p>\n \u2022 The Loma Prieta & SF Bay Chapters of the Sierra Club are trying to make fees for building permits for solar installations cheaper<\/a>. Apparently there is a massive price difference across just three counties. For one system, it would cost over $11,000 in Cupertino, but less than $500 in Morgan Hill.<\/p>\n \u2022 Before the convention, a number of noble bills passed the State Senate<\/a>, including protecting tenants when their landlords lose their buildings to foreclosure, and a bill first brought up by Fabian Nunez last year, that would be an Employee Free Choice Act for farmworkers.<\/p>\n \u2022 Yet more problems for the California budget – rich victims of the Bernard Madoff Ponzi scheme, who want refunds for state income tax on money they never received<\/a>, and they have a pretty good point. States – or more likely, the federal government – will probably lose billions on this deal.<\/p>\n