Posted on 09/24/2006 9:32:14 AM PDT by free_at_jsl.com
Given that many moderate and conservative Californians see Arnold Schwarzenegger's veto pen as all that protects them from the most far-left Legislature north of Caracas, it may be a surprise to learn that so far the governor's sign-to-veto ratio on bills sent his way is a stunning 19 to 1. As of Thursday afternoon, Schwarzenegger had given his official blessings to 379 measures while only rejecting 20. The governor seems to think California doesn't have enough laws already.
We disagree. Here is our second list of bills now on Schwarzenegger's desk whose next stop should be the trash can, not the California Government Code.
• AB 2444. It's amazing how much time Democratic legislators spend trying to get around state laws requiring most new or higher taxes to be approved by voters or by two-thirds of the Legislature. This bill, which would allow San Francisco Bay Area counties to impose additional "fees" for vehicle registration to pay for congestion relief and environmental projects, is the latest example. If Bay Area politicians are sure their voters want what this "fee" hike would pay for, why not ask them to provide funds through local ballot measures?
• AB 680. The California Department of Education is already overwhelmed with bureaucratic requirements. This bill would force it to undertake another massive project: tracking millions of documents sent home by thousands of schools to make sure that a proper number are written in the primary language of students' parents. No one seriously argues schools are keeping minority parents in the dark about their children's work. This is a green-eyeshade version of pointless political correctness.
• AB 2108. This bill would require all but unusually tall children ages 8 and under to use a child-safety booster seat, a change from the current 6 and under. We are certain there is some statistical rationale for this measure showing it would reduce injuries. But it is also true that if all children were required to wear bicycle helmets around the clock, injuries would go down even more. At some point, safety choices must be left to parents. And if this law passes, so much for using minivans to cart the neighborhood kids back and forth from soccer practice -- unless drivers choose to stockpile booster seats.
• SB 1578. This bill would make the tethering of dogs to a stationary object a crime punishable by up to six months in jail. In an ideal world, all dogs would have tenders devoted to their every need, and stadium-size fields on which to romp. This is not such a world. Existing laws on animal cruelty are more than adequate.
• AB 695. This would allow attorneys to sue retailers who didn't have proper signs detailing their return policies. Really, can't Democratic lawmakers be a little more subtle in their payoffs to the trial-lawyer lobby?
We'll probably offer another please-veto-these list in coming days. As Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf would say, the governor's desk is a target-rich environment.
If that happens they will become law. He has a deadline of September 30th to either sign or veto bills. If he does neither by the deadline, they automatically become law as if he had signed them.
He has a bill on expanding MediCal to cover juvenile treatment for alcohol and drug addiction that he has not yet signed. SB 1288 I check daily. Currently, poor juveniles can only receive treatment covered under MediCal if they qualify with a co-ocurring "mental disorder."
Personally, I have seen that prevention and early intervention costs far less than waiting for the child grown up to an adult get to the point of incarceration and system depedence - so they are eligible for treatment uder Prop 36. Not to mention that the addicted person's life, potential and family has often been severely impacted in the interim.
Thanks for the post. I was not aware of this rule.
I wonder if FairlyOpinionated thinks this is right?
As of 9/22/06: "Governor Schwarzenegger has taken action on 458 bills, signing 429 and vetoing 29."
There are lots more to come!
There are also many, many veto opportunities: two very ugly Global Warming bills (AB 32 and SB 1368), Prescription Drugs (AB 2911), Electoral College (AB 2948), Drivers licenses for illegals (SB 1162), Financial Aid for illegals(SB 160), Public Benefits for Illegal Aliens (SB 1534), Bilingual education (SB 1769), Vehicle fuel mandate (AB 1012), lots of GLBT bills (AB 606, AB 1207, SB 1827, AB 1056, AB 2800, AB 1160, AB 2051, AB 2920), etc.
Never!
Why... These things are all so benign! There's nothing in that list that will hurt anyone, right? C'mon. Yer just tryin ta ruin the good in demandin the perfect! (/dripping sarcasm)
Unfortunately, that list is only a partial one demonstrating the nonsense that is sitting on the Governor's desk. I feel like this is all a bad dream--10 years ago, I couldn't imagine that a State would be seriously considering this garbage. I could put up with the Nanny-state bills (cell phones, booster seats, etc.), but this stuff is outright destructive!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.