by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

Yup, it's that time again. Monday at 3:30 we'll be doing one of our famed Calitics podcasts. This week we will be talking with Frank Russo of California Progress Report about the CDC Convention in Fresno, legislation in Sacramento and a few elections.

You can check it out right here.

by Lucas O'Connor [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

California's first African American congressman died Saturday in Bethesda, MD.  He was 100 years old.  Hawkins was first elected to the California state legislature in 1935 and became the first African American to represent California in the House of Representatives in 1962, serving until 1991.  He was the oldest living former congressman.

While in office, Hawkins was instrumental in legislation like the Civil Rights Act (sponsoring Title VII- the equal employment section), the Job Training Partnership Act, and the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment Act.  He was also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.

When he left office, his seat passed to Rep. Maxine Waters who said he was "the author of some of the most significant legislation ever passed in the House . . . particularly in the areas of education and labor. He cared about poor and working people."

"It was Gus Hawkins who gave us the credibility," said Rep. Diane Watson, D-Los Angeles. "It was Gus Hawkins who gave us the ideas. . . . He has left a sterling legacy."

It's a good opportunity to remember the good things government can do.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Mark Murray
Executive Director
Californians Against Waste

The 2007 legislative session is officially behind us, with mixed results. What began as the most ambitious year for waste reduction and recycling policy since 1989, ended on a decidedly sour note, with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoing the two most significant waste prevention and recycling bills that made it to his desk.

Governor Vetoes Legislation to Require Multifamily Recycling Opportunities

CAW-sponsored AB 548 (Levine) would have required apartment owners to provide recycling services to their tenants. In his veto message, the Governor cites significant costs as a deterrent in the legislation.

The legislation would have expanded recycling opportunities to the more than 7 million Californians living in apartments and other multifamily dwellings that still lack a basic recycling opportunity where they live.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed Friday and Saturday than he had for the entire rest of the year. The rate of vetoes to bills signed has increased markedly as we approach tonight's deadline for him to act. These vetoes include a number of major items of legislation.

So far this year, Governor Schwarzenegger has signed 670 bills and vetoed 142 bills. The Governor has 153 bills remaining on his desk.

On Friday, he signed 32 bills and vetoed 16. Saturday, he signed 101 and vetoed 62. For this two day period, he vetoed 37% of the measures he acted upon versus an 11% rate he had before then this year when he signed 537 bills and vetoed only 64. So far, he has vetoed 17.5% of the bills to reach his desk this year.

Here is a selection of some of the important bills he has vetoed in just the last two days that have caught our attention:

by Brian Leubitz [courtesy of Calitics - Front Page]

A whole host of bills were vetoed by the Governor as the Midnight draws near. Some notable vetoes:

• Marriage Equality (AB 43)
• Worker's Comp Reform (SB 936)
• Health Care (AB 8)

Of course a few were signed as well, including legislation to create an Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy.

by Sheri Divers [courtesy of Blog for America]

House Votes to Boost Watchdogs' Power

Government watchdogs would gain more autonomy and protection from political retribution under legislation the House passed Wednesday. The White House threatened a veto, saying the measure infringes on presidential authority over inspectors general.

The bill is the latest proposal where the Bush administration and the Democratic-controlled Congress have clashed over executive branch versus congressional authority. Other disputes have involved who should set policy on secret surveillance, the treatment of suspected terrorists and military operations in Iraq.

The inspector general legislation passed 404-11, well above the level needed for the House to override a veto. The full Senate has not yet taken up the issue.

FEC Nominee Von Spakovsky, Other Three Advance Without Recommendation

A Senate panel sent four nominees to the Federal Election Commission to the floor Wednesday without recommendation, as one contentious appointee threatened to derail the bunch.

[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

A federal judge has ruled that the state of Vermont has a right to enact legislation requiring stricter auto emissions standardsthan the national standards, thus giving a boost to California’sefforts to do the same as it implements its anti-global warming bill,reports the LA Times. This is the latest carbon emissions ruling infavor of reducing emissions (the last one was when the Supreme Courtruled that the EPA could indeed regulate carbon emissions), so here’shoping that California wins its own case in federal court.

The Contra Costa Times articulates the obvious: it hasn’t been the most productive year for the California legislature.Some hopes rest on the special session Governor Schwarzenegger hascalled to address health care reform, and water storage and floodprotection legislation, but the Times says don’t count on it.

The Sac Bee also reports on the perception of the ineffectiveness of the legislative session that ended yesterday. Legislative bingo sounds like fun though.