by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Barbara Boxer, our Senator, is co-sponsoring legislation that lawmakers have called a "tipping point" in the national debate over global warming,the San Francisco Chronicle reports. The bill, which is alreadysupported by several Republicans, borrows heavily from California'ssimilarly ground-breaking AB 32 and couples deep emission cuts with amarket-based cap and trade system.

Boxer is also showing leadership on reducing Inland Empire pollution created by the trucks, trains and cargo associated with trade inSouthern California, the Riverside Press Enterprise reports. We need toreap the economic benefits of trade while minimizing the public healthexternalities, like dirty air—the Inland Empire deserves better.

Just days after vetoing the last of this year's Chamber of Commerce designated "job-killer" bills, Governor Schwarzenegger raked in $800,000 from corporate interests at a swank roast in Hollywood, the Associated Press reports. Could there be a connection? FormerDemocratic Senate Leader John Burton, known for his expletive-filledrants was there to give the Governor a couple of "jabs," which heexplained away to reporters using an expletive.

There's more... 

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Hannah Beth Jackson

During my tenure in the California legislature, I found it somewhat humorous that every bill calling for greater corporate accountability and responsibility to the health and well-being of the public or workers was called "a job killer" by the California Chamber of Commerce. This appellation was almost always not only overly simplistic, but wildly dishonest and inaccurate. When I brought a bill to require that we consider the health impacts on women and children of various chemicals and compounds when we establish acceptable health standards, and not just consider the impacts on the average 6 foot 175 pound male, the bill was attacked as being a "job killer".

The first time I heard this, I thought the accuser was just kidding. But then I realized that the allegation came from a package of "talking points" handed out by the California Chamber of Commerce as part of their propaganda campaign to defeat any measures that would otherwise regulate their big business bosses. How in the world could you otherwise justify defeating a measure designed to protect the health of our people, and especially our children?

by Julia Rosen [courtesy of Working Californians blogs]

The governor is a corporatist. Leave the partisanship aside. When push comes to shove Arnold almost always backs big business. And they back him in the form of massive contributions. The proof, as they say is in the pudding. LAT:

Last weekend the rallies had ceased, the lobbying had ended and the governor worked into the night, signing or vetoing the final stack of this year's bills. In all, he signed 750 bills in 2007 and vetoed 214.

When the smoke cleared Monday, there were plenty of grins and grumbles. But no group in Sacramento was smiling wider than one of the governor's most predictable allies: big business and its Sacramento mouthpiece, the California Chamber of Commerce.

In recent years, the chamber has focused much of its lobbying firepower on an annual list of "job killer" bills. This year, Schwarzenegger complied with 12 out of 12 chamber requests for vetoes on those bills. In 2006, he vetoed nine of 11 bills that the chamber listed as job killers.

"The chamber has had more success than most in getting vetoes," said Steve Blackledge, legislative director for the California Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocate. "They draw a bright line in the sand and say, 'These bills have to be stopped.' They've got the governor as their backstop."

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by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

To the tune of 12 for 12. 12 Vetoes for 12 Good Bills.  That kind of record would make even the Colorado Rockies smile. And it's sure making the Cal Chamber of Commerce smile. 

In recent years, the chamber has focused much of its lobbying firepower on an annual list of "job killer" bills. This year, Schwarzenegger complied with 12 out of 12 chamber requests for vetoes on those bills. In 2006, he vetoed nine of 11 bills that the chamber listed as job killers.

"The chamber has had more success than most in getting vetoes," said Steve Blackledge, legislative director for the California Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocate. "They draw a bright line in the sand and say, 'These bills have to be stopped.' They've got the governor as their backstop."(LAT 10/16/07)

Some of those bills over the flip.

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

To the tune of 12 for 12. 12 Vetoes for 12 Good Bills.  That kind of record would make even the Colorado Rockies smile. And it's sure making the Cal Chamber of Commerce smile. 

In recent years, the chamber has focused much of its lobbying firepower on an annual list of "job killer" bills. This year, Schwarzenegger complied with 12 out of 12 chamber requests for vetoes on those bills. In 2006, he vetoed nine of 11 bills that the chamber listed as job killers.

"The chamber has had more success than most in getting vetoes," said Steve Blackledge, legislative director for the California Public Interest Research Group, a consumer advocate. "They draw a bright line in the sand and say, 'These bills have to be stopped.' They've got the governor as their backstop."(NYT 10/16/07)

Some of those bills over the flip.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The fate of AB 779 (Jones) lies with Governor Schwarzenegger. It is a commonsense measure that would add retailers and state government to those sharing responsibility under California's data breach notification law for the prevention of these breaches through better protection of consumer information.

It received its final passage in the Assembly 73-0 in September with 47 of 48 Democrats in support and 26 of 32 Republicans voting for it. Before its final amendments it had previously passed the Assembly in June on a 58-2 vote. It passed the California State Senate on a 30 to 6 vote with the support of 22 of 25 Democrats and 8 of those often difficult 15 Republican Senators.