[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Thousands of pre-paid phone cards are bought every year but there are no regulations to insure the consumer gets what they paid for. California State Assemblymember Hector de la Torre (D-South Gate) is pushing legislation through the state capitol to make sure consumers don’t get ripped off by unscrupulous phone card sellers. Assembly Bill 2885 would regulate the phone card companies the same way land line and cell phone companies are regulated. Here’s more in this Assembly Web Report.

by Dante Atkins (hekebolos) [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

by Donald Lathbury [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

When former Assemblymember Joe Nation hastily entered the Senate District 3 primary back in February, he acknowledged that "it's late to be getting in in some respects," and the race "will be a sprint." Scrambling together a last minute campaign is no doubt tough work, and it's not surprising to see short cuts taken. But when those short cuts seem to include secretive violations of state residency requirements, in a region with a torrid history of residency violations, voters should be concerned. 

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Maybe he could help with some of the heavy lifting to get votes, including the budget

By Frank D. Russo

This morning Jack LaLanne appeared in the back of the California state Assembly chamber as that body was about to begin its daily business during this busy week facing tomorrow’s deadline that requires passage of legislation by its members. This is a week that will see hundreds of bills in both houses live or die in floor votes being taken.

There he was, this icon of good health who in the 1950’s started the longest running television show devoted to fitness, a show I had laughed at with my brothers while a youngster. Lalanne, in his 60's performed feats such as swimming from Alcatraz to Fisherman’s Wharf in the San Francisco Bay, towing a 1,000 pound boat while handcuffed.

97 years young LaLanne, who tonight will be inducted into the California Museum’s California Hall of Fame by Maria Shriver tonight in Sacramento, received an award from Assemblymember Lloyd Levine. He was then given permission to address the Assembly and did not disappoint.

With grins all around, he lectured our solons on eating well and getting exercise, starting off asking what they had had for breakfast and whether they would feed it to their dog. Then telling them if it’s man made, not to eat it.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Under new legislation from Assemblymember Jared Huffman (D-San Rafael) homeowners, farmers and businesses could get paid for the excess electricity they produce with renewable energy sources. Assemblymember Huffman says AB 1920 will be an incentive to build more solar power supplies and insure consumers get paid by the utility companies for any excess power they produce and put back on the grid. Huffman, a member of the Assembly Committee on Utilities and Commerce, says several constituents from Sonoma and Marin counties suggested the reforms. Here’s more on the Net Surplus Solar and Renewable Energy Act of 2007 in this Assembly Web Report.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Good dental health not only results in good smiles, it produces better students. With that in mind Speaker Karen Bass (D-Los Angeles) and Assemblymember Mary Hayashi (D-Hayward) met with dental health providers at a low income health clinic in the Bay Area. As we learn in this Assembly Web Report programs to provide dental health care to low income children are facing potential budget cuts.