by David Dayen [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Doug Lakey

On Tuesday October 9th, a group of more than 30 Californians gathered outside of Senator Dianne Feinstein’s office in San Francisco. Why were they there? To ask Senator Feinstein to vote no on the nomination of Leslie Southwick to a lifetime position on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Regrettably, the senator had voted with Republicans on the Judiciary Committee to send his nomination to the full Senate. Why were these Californians gathered to oppose a judge who will not rule directly on California cases? Because they are fed up with George W. Bush’s court-packing program and hoping that their senator, long known as a champion of civil rights and equality for gays and lesbians, will change her vote when the nomination comes to a vote on the Senate floor.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The California Special Session on Water will see its first State Senate hearing today at 1:30 p.m. on a day that many Californians and most state workers have a holiday. Columbus Day is celebrated today in California, and for many it is a three day weekend. It could be the beginning of three days of action for the Senate.

The Senate Daily File for the Second Extraordinary Session gives a few clues. It shows that the Natural Resources and Water Committee will hear 5 bills that have been introduced with a pesky little asterisk stating "pending receipt." It also shows that a hearing is calendared for tomorrow of the Senate Appropriations Committee on the same bills with that asterisk. A Senate Floor Session is listed for both Tuesday and Wednesday "upon call of the President pro Tem."

This means that if a deal is struck in the Senate between Democrats and Republicans on bonds to be placed on the February ballot, the way is paved for passage in the next three days. Remember that it takes a two-thirds vote of both the California Senate and Assembly to place a bond before the voters.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Key bills and issues we’ve been following during the past week and beyond

By Jackie Goldberg
Teacher
Former Member of the California Assembly

Well, the traveling legislators are back at work in Sacramento, but the Governor went to China when they returned.

“Dam, dam, dam” insists the GOP in ultimatums to the Dems. on the Water Bond—tough stance threatens to derail a water bond for February.

“Nyet, no, nunca, never” are the GOP responses to both the Governor’s and the Dem. leadership Health Plan legislation—tough stance threatens to derail any progress in Special Session on Healthcare reform.

Water

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Health Coverage for Children, Flood Safety, Electoral College, Air and Water Pollution, and Toxics Action at Stake Today

By Frank D. Russo

“Today” is supposed to be the last day of the 2007 regular session for the California Assembly and State Senate. If history is any guide, it will be a long day—one that could go until the wee hours of the morning. Both houses are scheduled to start shortly this morning.

Among the major bills still pending are:

• A sentencing commission. Both SB 110 (Romero), which failed on the Assembly floor 34 to 38 and which can be brought up under reconsideration, and AB 160 (Lieber), which had been holed up in the Senate Rules Committee and has been sprung to the Senate floor, can be voted on. If Romero’s bill advances, there is a play with AB 1708 (Swanson) on the Senate floor that could amend SB 110, clean it up, and perhaps make it more acceptable to the Assembly. Both houses of the legislature have passed fairly similar sentencing commission bills, although with heated debates and opposition from Republicans.

• AB 70 (Jones) and AB 162 (Laird), the 2 remaining flood safety and control bills in the package of 5 this year.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Senate President pro Tem Don Perata presenting AB 8 on the Senate floor

By Frank D. Russo

This afternoon the California State Senate passed AB 8 (Nunez-Perata) on a 22 to 17 vote with only Democrats in support and all Republicans opposed. Democratic Senator Sheil Kuehl, the author of SB 840, a single payor plan, and Senator Lou Correa voted against the bill. Senator Joe Simitian did not vote. The bill now heads to the Assembly, which we have just been advised will be debating it shortly.

The debate on the bill was a little more bizarre than most. It took place against the backdrop that there is almost a virtual certainty that Governor Schwarzenegger will veto the bill and then call the legislature back for a special session on health. Senator Perata in presenting the bill acknowledged that the seven week impasse on the state budget had a big impact on failure to negotiate a last minute deal that the Governor could commit to in advance to sign. He said if there was a special session, it will be incumbent on the Governor to provide us with his legislation—a not so gentle reminder that the Governor has never had a bill proposal introduced in this, the “year of health care” that he proclaimed.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

Historic vote comes at time of increased scrutiny over toy safety

By Frank D. Russo

The California State Senate gave final approval to landmark legislation, AB 1108, authored by Assemblywoman Fiona Ma, that would make California the first state in the country to ban these dangerous chemicals used in baby toys. Canada and Mexico have already outlawed the chemical, making the United States the only place in North America where you can buy phthalates-laced products for newborns and infants.