SB 277 passed the Assembly Health Committee in a 12-6 vote yesterday amid raucous outcry from anti-vaccine activists. The bill now heads for the full Assembly. Melody Gutierrez at SFGate:
“More than 1,000 opponents lined the walls in the Capitol where they waited hours for their turn to record their opposition to the bill. They left the Assembly hearing room decrying pharmaceutical influence on policymaking and yelling ‘fascist’ at lawmakers in the Assembly Health Committee, which approved the bill 12-6.”
Senators Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley) and Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles) will today introduce legislation to revise Proposition 13, the landmark measure that restricts property tax rates. From Chris Megerian, LAT:
“The measure would allow for regular reassessments of offices, factories and other buildings, ensuring that they are taxed at closer to current market value. Currently they're reassessed only when there's a change in ownership.
“The change would not apply to residences or agricultural property, and there would be new tax breaks to help small businesses.
“If approved by the Legislature, the measure would be placed on the ballot in November 2016.”
Governor Jerry Brown and the legislature continue to wrangle over the state budget, even as Monday’s deadline looms. The Sacramento Bee’s Jim Miller has a good overview of some of the sticking points, including revenue projections, state-subsidized child care, and the budget for UC.
California’s political watchdog agency, the FPPC, has a new chief enforcement officer, replacing Gary Winuk, who departed earlier this year. John Howard has the story at Capitol Weekly.
“Galena West, a veteran lawyer at the Fair Political Practices Commission, has been named chief of enforcement at the agency, which serves as the state’s campaign ethics watchdog.
“…West, who has been on the FPPC staff for 10 years, has served as acting enforcement chief since March.”
As California’s High-Speed Rail project comes closer to reality, opposition grows from those in its path. Ralph Vartabedian and Soumya Karlamangla have the story at the Los Angeles Times.
“As the detailed planning process begins to shift to Southern California, community leaders and neighborhood groups are launching challenges to a segment that would run between Palmdale and Burbank.
“The conflicts ahead came into focus Tuesday when hundreds gathered in downtown Los Angeles to protest at a meeting of the state board overseeing construction of the system.
“During more than six hours of public comment by about 150 people, one speaker after another attacked the project as the eight-member California High-Speed Rail Authority board listened quietly. The testimony came from residents and leaders in small towns and growing suburbs along proposed routes through the mountains north of the Los Angeles basin. Many speakers said the project would devastate their quality of life or their local economy.”
The Obama administration yesterday announced major expansions of two Northern California marine sanctuaries. Paul Rogers at the San Jose Mercury News:
“In the largest expansion of national marine sanctuaries in California in 23 years, the Obama administration on Tuesday more than doubled the size of two Northern California marine sanctuaries, extending them by 50 miles up the rugged Sonoma and Mendocino coasts.
“Under the dramatic move by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank national marine sanctuaries expand from Bodega Bay to Point Arena, permanently banning offshore oil drilling along that stretch of coast.”
One year after the legislature approved funds for emergency drought relief, $340 million remains unspent. Fenit Nirappil and Scott Smith, The Associated Press:
“Although millions of dollars from the same drought-assistance package have helped parched communities across the state, the amount of money that remains untapped shows how slowly the wheels of government can turn even in a crisis.
“State officials acknowledge the slow pace of the spending, which they say is meant to ensure that the money is used wisely. But some say they would like to find ways to speed up the process.
“Weeks after he declared a state of emergency, Gov. Jerry Brown’s administration set aside $687 million to help house farmworkers and others struggling in drought-devastated counties. Nearly half of it has not been awarded or spent…”
And, finally, the news Crystal Pepsi fans (all nine of them) have been waiting for.
“Crystal Pepsi appears headed for a comeback, that much is clear. But details on when and how the 1990s-era cola will return remain murky.
“The clear cola was first introduced in 1992 but lasted only a few years. Despite its short lifespan, the drink apparently gained a loyal following of consumers who have lobbied PepsiCo to bring it back.
“On Tuesday, the cola giant sent its strongest signal yet that Crystal might soon be available again by responding to one of its biggest fans, competitive eating star Kevin Strahle. Mr. Strahle, who goes by the name L.A. Beast on Twitter, tweeted an image of a message he said he received from Pepsi that stated: ‘We definitely hear you and all your followers and we think you'll all be happy with what's in store.’"
We’ll stick with Original New York Seltzer.
