[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Serious Drafting Problems in Measure Circulating on Streets

By Josiah Green

"Oops, I did it again."

Given the embarrassing state of Britney Spears these days, it seems appropriate to quote the former Mouseketeer to describe what can only be labeled a major embarrassment for the self-anointed "property rights" advocates on the right.

Last year voters rejected Proposition 90 -- the fake "eminent domain reform" measure that was a front to eviscerate environmental and consumer protection laws. This year, the property rights crowd is back, trying to qualify another initiative that serves their self-interest -- all deceptively buried under the politically compelling banner of "eminent domain" reform.

Much like with Proposition 90, the proponents have "done it again". They’ve overreached to the point of making their measure completely toxic, even among their traditional Republican allies.

by Robert in Monterey [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

Appearing on Forum, a widely listened to public affairs program on KQED radio hosted by Michael Krasny, Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and the Republican leader of the Senate, Dick Ackerman, provided a few interesting new details on what to expect tomorrow when the Senate reconvenes to hear the Republican plan--if there is one.

Ackerman was pretty sketchy about any details on where the Republicans want to cut. They are apparently still working on those details. The only program he mentioned for cuts was the Cal Works program--taking some additional dollars from families and kids--that Perata indicated Democrats would oppose. Ackerman talked about a lot of small things--"a million here and a million there" that he said would add up to real dollars that there wasn't really time to discuss while the "Big Four" were meeting on the major issues.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Gary A. Patton
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

We’ve just gotten news that a group of California business leaders have petitioned Governor Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders to break our best environmental laws. They’re demanding that the Legislature rip a hole in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to give their businesses a free ride on global warming pollution.

The petition is an unofficial declaration of war against CEQA, and California’s new global warming program, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger just nine months ago.

Here’s what I wrote the Governor, California Senate leader Don Perata, and California Assembly leader Fabian Nunez:

"RE: Business Attack on the State’s Global Warming Prevention Efforts

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Perata, and Speaker Núñez:

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Rosemary Shahan,
President
Consumers for Auto Reliability and Safety

What do you look for in a car? Safety? Fuel economy? Comfort? Affordability? How about whether you are inadvertently making a campaign contribution to the Republican Party?

Nationally, auto dealers are among the most aggressive contributors to the Republican Party and Republican candidates. Compared to other industries, they are among the most lopsided in their giving. During the 2000 election cycle, 96% of the auto industry's soft money went to the GOP.

In addition, some of the largest auto dealers are among the Bush Pioneers, who raised many millions for Bush's election and re-election campaigns. According to Automotive News, auto dealers played an active role in funneling a whopping $150 million to the Bush-Cheney campaign. Dealers also crowed about the pivotal role they played in the battleground state of Ohio.

by atdleft [courtesy of Calitics: Soapblox California - Front Page]