The Merc News's Mike Zapler reports on the
demise of Sally Lieber's anti-spanking bill. "After a month of nationwide publicity and much ridicule, the Mountain View Assemblywoman on Thursday dropped her idea to criminalize spanking young children,
bowing to opposition from fellow lawmakers who worried it made the state Legislature look kooky."
Apparently, because of the move to change term limits, we are now entering a legislative kooky-free zone.
"'The votes,' a disappointed Lieber said at a news conference, 'simply were not there.'
"Lieber instead introduced a watered-down bill that would prohibit other types of physical punishment, such as using an instrument -- belt, stick, extension cord -- on a child or vigorously shaking a youngster under age 3. But a swat on the behind will continue to be legal, so long as it doesn't cause serious injury."
"Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger urged legislative leaders yesterday to act swiftly to ease prison overcrowding, saying he
would consider early release of inmates who are 'old, feeble and sick' and 'pose no threat to the public,' reports Ed Mendel in the Union Tribune.
"The governor said that if lawmakers do not solve the long-standing overcrowding problem, the federal courts may order the release of criminals and the construction of new prisons, taking money that would otherwise go to education and health care.
"This is, of course, unacceptable. But we can make certain this doesn't happen if we act now,' Schwarzenegger said at a news conference after meeting earlier with legislative leaders. "
Dan Walters looks at the
complicated politics created with the federal intervention. "It is, in political terms, a game of chicken with Schwarzenegger caught in the middle. Liberals believe that as the prison crisis worsens, it will force the state to start releasing some inmates and/or modifying its sentencing laws. Conservatives believe that it will force liberals to stop opposing construction of new prisons. And then there's the very powerful union that represents the prison system's guards, the California Correctional Peace Officers Association. It and other unions oppose any steps that reduce the need for unionized state workers, such as moving inmates to other states.
"Henderson's order and the increasing involvement of other federal and state judges raise the stakes in the game even higher -- essentially setting an early deadline for doing something concrete -- with the threat of a judicial takeover looming.
"'All of this is why we have to act quickly,' Schwarzenegger said, adding that he believes legislative leaders now share his sense of urgency. 'By having the order, it speeds up the process.'"
"In a challenge to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's much-touted plan to reduce greenhouse gases, Senate Democrats on Thursday
unveiled a sweeping package of bills that impose new industry regulations rather than rely on the market-based approach the Republican governor has taken," writes Shane Goldmacher in the Bee.
"Among other things, the bills would require that one-third of the state's energy come from renewable resources by 2021 and half of new cars in the state run on alternative fuels by 2020.
"Cheered by environmentalists, the package brought to the fore the tensions between Senate Democrats and Schwarzenegger about how to best reduce greenhouse gases.
"'We can act now, here in California,' said Senate President Pro Tem
Don Perata, D-Oakland, who is backing the measures."
The Register's Brian Joseph looks at the
loopholes used by lobbyists to get around campaign finance laws. "California law prohibits lobbyists from making campaign contributions to state candidates, but says nothing about lobbying firms, which are permitted to make contributions like any other business. That's like banning money from Donald Bren but accepting it from the Irvine Co.
"I asked the law's author,
Bob Stern, what was the point when I had found lobbying firms gave at least $767,000 to candidates last year. He acknowledged it doesn't prevent influence buying, but said a broader ban could have been struck down.
"'It's always a balancing act,' said Stern, now with the Center for Governmental Studies. The problem is, 'People are always looking for ways to get around the law," he said.
Joseph also looks at the revolving door law.
"Lawmakers are banned from immediately lobbying the Legislature, but are permitted to lobby the administration as soon as they leave office. Former elected state officers, conversely, have a one-year ban on lobbying 'any state administrative agency,' but can lobby the Legislature as soon they want.
"I became interested in that distinction when I learned the small city of Livingston in the San Joaquin Valley was considering hiring former Lt. Gov.
Cruz Bustamante.
"Mayor
Gurpal Samra said the City Council wants Bustamante to lobby the Legislature and state agencies on transportation issues and was ready to consider a contract with him this month when Samra became concerned Bustamante wasn't eligible and asked for a legal opinion. That's still coming, but Bustamante told me his lawyers already have said he can lobby anybody he wants except the State Lands Commission, of which the lieutenant governor is a member."
Hey,
this might make Sally Lieber feel a little better. "Fake bull testicles and other anatomically explicit vehicle decorations would be banned from Maryland roads under a bill pending in the state legislature.
The measure was filed in the General Assembly Monday by Delegate
LeRoy E. Myers Jr., R-Washingon, who says
children shouldn't be exposed to giant plastic gonads dangling from pickup truck trailer hitches. The bill also would ban depictions of naked human breasts, buttocks or genitals, with offenses punishable by fines of up to $500.
"It's time to take a stand," Myers told The (Hagerstown) Herald-Mail.
Man, those Maryland legislators are kooky...