The Dems are caucusing right now, probably trying to grind out the last few votes for the ‘gutted-and amended’ drivers license for illegal immigrants, now known as SB 1162. It is ‘on call’ right now with 35 aye votes and 32 no. I reckon it might be a little warm in the members lounge right now [where the Dems caucus] I’m sure they are covering a multitude of things, maybe the LA mayor takeover of LAUSD. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosahas been around all day, he arrived in the garage same time as I, this AM. SB 1162 up until last Thursday, was a minimum wage increase bill, but ‘minor and technical amendments’made it the drivers license one now.

And an earlier highlight was Single Payer Health Care, SB 840, passing by 43-30. Look out all you Single people, you have to pay for everyone’s health care now!… Read More

The Governor signed AB 1441 minutes ago. SB 1441 extends so called anti-discrimination laws concerning sex, sexual orientation and one’s perceptions about their sexual oreintation to ANY entity that receives any amount of state funding.

Translation: Does your Christian school take any money for disabled kids? Does your Religious College takes students on Cal-Grants? Any relgious instituition that provides CALWORKS childcare or any service now must protect the jobs of any kind of sexual choice you can think of.

It should be noted THAT NOT ONE REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE SENATE OR ASSEMBLY VOTED FOR THE BILL. NOT ONE!!!! One Dem actually voted no.

And Phil would have signed the same bill. Thanks Governor for showing us the difference.… Read More

The campaign to change term limits for council members in Los Angeles is creating more opposition than they first thought. I’ve reported on the opposition of neighborhood councils to the change. Some are upset about changing term limits, some are upset about the linking to ethics reforms and others are just mad that no one asked them. See here.

More of these grassroot neighborhood council are signing on. Some voters are taking the proponents to court over their ballot statements. See here.Tomorrow you will read a newspaperarticle about the lawsuit challenging the measure over the single subject rule. Remember youread it on FR first.

A little money will stop the Measure (Measure R)in its track.… Read More

Referencing Nicholas Romero’s great post below, I am personally glad to know that my own assemblymember did not sign on to the Save Pluto bandrocket (same guy that refused to co-author a reso for Bob Dylan’s birthday a few years ago…yes, there is a connection, if you grasp at straws).

To be sure, those that did join this noble cause du-jour likely believe themselves to be "tradtional," in the sense that they grew up with planet Pluto in their science books, so what was good for them should be sacred for our kids. We’d hate for our children to be led astray by some "Anti-Pluto Agenda" in the schools, in which a lack of traditional planet values forces them into a life of universal unrest.

Or, on the other hand, if you read the Pluto reso, you may see that it is written with the same mockery of those who would be "psychologically" impacted or offended by having to drive by a latin cross everyday.

Yes, fortunately, it is the other hand….this is a joke, a nuanced jab at the Dems.

Be that as it may, if you really want to… Read More

I love space. I love stargazing. I love the planets. In the Indiana of my youth,the grade school district operated a planetarium and I grew up exposed to the wonders of the galaxy. I love stargazing so much my favorite destination in Hawaii is the cluster of Mauna Kea observatories, where onecan seemore stars than probably anywhere else on the planet. I lovespace so much that I’ve built up quite a collection of space films,including Tom Hanks’s wonderful HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon, Homer Hickam’s October Sky, IMAX’s Space Station, as well as many others. I was one… Read More

There should be plenty of excitement in San Bernardino County this November. Here’s a quick overview.

Rancho Cucamonga: The largest city in the more affluent West End will elect a mayor to serve a four-year term. Voters will choose between incumbent Republican Mayor Bill Alexander, a retired fire captain, and challenger Donald Kurth M.D., also a Republican and a former city councilmember. This race may turn heated, as Alexander and Kurth weren’t exactly allies when they served together. And speaking of Rancho Cucamonga’s city council, there are eight candidates vying for two seats. Incumbents Diane Williams and Rex Gutierrez (both Republicans) are being challenged by six hopefuls. This contest is shaping up to be a battle between the two incumbents and Dieter Dammeier (Dem), a former police officer and judge pro-tem who has the backing of Mayor Alexander (GOP)and City Councilmember Sam Spagnolo (GOP). Williams, Gutierrez and Dammeier lead the money race so far.

The High Desert: Here in the home base of popular Board of Supervisors Chairman and leading candidate for County Assessor… Read More

We’re in the homestretch of making top quality legislation for this 2 year session. Much scurrying about with last minute gut-and-amends, rule waivers being sought, bills with no committee hearings…a very perilous time for any topic you may be interested in that is still in play legislatively. It seems that no bill is dead, even when pronounced so by Big 4 folks because it changes the next day and is back on the table. With all the negotiations going on in the back rooms on various topics, we need everyone to stay on top of this legislature to not give away the store on some really bad ideas at the minute before midnight,and then run for cover in our respective districts until January. Indeed, as bad as the wheeling and dealing appears on some very critical issues,when the Legislature adjourns this Thursday 12AM, sine die, or "without day", the constitutional term for "GO HOME", it will be a good thing for freedom loving Californians.… Read More

Check out this SF Chronicle article on Park Day School, a private school here in Oakland. They are changing school procedures to cater more to “gender-fluid” kids. These are kids who want to act and/or dress as if they were the opposite sex. After hiring a consultant to help them cater to these children’s needs, Park Day is not asking the kids to line up in boys and girls lines anymore, they allow kids to play either gender in class skits and they have a unisex bathroom.

Educators, counselors and some parents point to society as the reason that these children feel that they are abnormal. The… Read More