by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Well, it appears, unsurprisingly, that Sen. Don Perata was/is at the center of the "Dump Denham" movement. From Matier and Ross:

Armed with $250,000, Perata launched a recall drive aimed at clipping the Central Valley lawmaker's wings just as he was getting set to run for lieutenant governor.

Now, not only is that run in doubt, but Denham is also fighting just to hold onto his seat - all because of his vote against the state budget. (SF Chron 11/11/07)

Perhaps this gets us one seat closer to 2/3? I know some people will get all upset about using the recall process, but the fact remains that the tool exists. We can't unilaterally disarm; if they use it, so should we.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Griffin Dix, Ph.D.

Thanks to California’s 18 Brady/Million Mom March Chapters, the Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, California law enforcement leaders, our state legislators, and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, more California criminals who use semiautomatic handguns will be identified and prosecuted. The most important anti-crime gun control bill in the U.S. in more than a decade just became California law.

California has an enormous and increasing problem of murders and other crimes committed with handguns. No arrest is made in almost half of California’s 2400 homicides per year, according to the state Dept. of Justice. That’s because police often lack the evidence they need. Over 60 percent of these murders are committed with handguns, mostly semiautomatics.

But this important new tool for California police will gradually help them solve more gun crimes. AB 1471, The Crime Gun Identification Act, authored by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, requires that new models of semiautomatic handguns sold in California after January 1, 2010, be manufactured utilizing "microstamping" technology which uses lasers to engrave microscopic numbers onto the firing pin and other parts of the handguns.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Griffin Dix, Ph.D.

Governor Schwarzenegger has a historic chance to fight crime and gun trafficking by signing a landmark bill that will make Californians safer. Will he take this opportunity to side with police, who want this new crime-fighting tool, or will he cave in to the gun lobby?

You can ask Governor Schwarzenegger to give law enforcement officials an important new crime-fighting tool by calling his office at 916-445-2841 and asking him to sign AB 1471.

Recently AB 1471, a bill that would help police solve gun crimes and identify gun traffickers, was passed by the California legislature and sent to the Governor for his signature. AB 1471, The Crime Gun Identification Act by Assemblyman Mike Feuer, would require that new models of semiautomatic handguns sold in California after January 1, 2010, be manufactured utilizing "microstamping" technology which uses lasers to engrave microscopic numbers onto the firing pin and breech face of the guns.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Bill Cavala
A veteran of over 30 years in Sacramento

The ‘unit rule’, which forces dissenting votes to cast their lot with the majority in a bloc, is the major tool being used by GOP Conservatives in the State Senate to block passage of the State’s budget.

While there may, indeed, be two Republican Senators ready to vote for the budget because they agree with it, because of district considerations, as a favor to the Governor, and so on – their votes are stifled by the imposition of the ‘unit rule’.

In the 50’s and 60’s the Southern delegations to the Democratic National Convention used it to cast unanimous votes against platform proposals that would extend civil rights to African-Americans. This ugly practice ended in 1968 at the insistence of Hubert Humphrey.

You can see the political convenience in using the “unit rule”. Republicans can run moderate candidates who espouse causes that are popular but anathema to conservatives. Restrictions on concealed firearms. Keeping reproductive choice off the lawbooks. Raising sin taxes.