by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

KQED's Forum is live right now with a program about whether the EPA is properly investigating the safety of chemicals.  Senator Barbara Boxer will appear on the show at 9:30 our time.  You can listen here or listen to the archive here.

[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?

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

In the Democratic weekly radio address Assembly Majority Whip Fiona Ma and Assemblymember Anna Caballero explain why Assembly Democrats want the Governor to sign Assembly Bill 1108, Assemblymember Ma's legislation to ban the use of some chemicals in toys designed for infants and toddlers. Assemblymembers Ma and Caballero also call on the public to urge the Governor via letters, phone calls and e-mails to sign the ban on toxic toys.