Blog

Will Big Tobacco Torpedo the Special Election?

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 12:20:51 -0700

Whether the special election is in June or November, this much is clear: given the dire consequences of an “all cuts budget,” this is the most important election facing California Democrats since Arnold Schwarzenegger’s relentless attack on working families in 2005...

Read more from my latest California Progress Report opinion piece.

It’s Time to Regulate Online Poker

Sat, 10 Apr 2010 10:38:06 -0700

Everyday, millions of responsible Americans sit down, log on and break the law.

Despite being banned by federal law, online poker is an immensely popular American pastime that shows no signs of waning. It is estimated that up to 15 million Americans play internet poker with some regularity.

Read more in my piece in the California Progress Report.

The Special Election Hiding in Schwarzenegger’s State of the State Address

Wed, 13 Jan 2010 08:11:12 -0800

Arnold is coming back with another special election to go out the way he came in. From my piece in the California Progress Report.

That Ticking Sound is the Lifetime Limits in the Senate Healthcare Bill

Sat, 2 Jan 2010 22:34:57 -0800

What’s your life worth? Under the Senate’s healthcare bill, a lot less than you might guess. Read more in my piece in the California Progress Report.

The US Senate and the Scarlet “A”

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 13:31:56 -0800

You can read my piece in the California Progress Report on the reprehensible, illogical and daft Senate compromise on women’s reproductive health coverage.

Polluter Protection is Back

Fri, 11 Dec 2009 16:42:43 -0800

The California Chamber of Commerce has submitted initiatives that would allow polluters to avoid paying to clean up their messes. If my two daughters had as much money as the Chamber, I’m sure they would want the California Constitution to protect them from cleaning-up after themselves too.

These measures are a rehash of Proposition 37, which was defeated by environmentalists led by Lenny Goldberg in 2000. It basically equates fines and cleanup fees to taxes and requires a two-thirds vote.

This would greatly hamper the legislature’s regulate polluters and would save some of California’s most toxic businesses billions of dollars. By the way, congratulations to S. Shariq Yosufzal of Chevron Corporation for just being elected First Vice Chair of the California Chamber of Commerce.

This has been on the Chamber’s wish list for some time, but the timing seems odd. These measures would be perfect candidates for the low turnout June 2010 election, but it is too late for the Chamber to get them on that ballot.

It is just as likely that these measures are more weapons for the Chamber’s arsenal in their war with Democratic forces. Are these measures designed to get the environmental lobby to split with labor over the simple majority initiatives? Time will tell