California. Home of the low hanging fruit.
Posted on 02/15/2007 7:57:30 AM PST by SmithL
Sacramento -- When "Saturday Night Live" wanted an opinion about a proposed bill in California that would outlaw spanking young children, the show turned to an actor playing a short-tempered, cigarette-smoking nanny whose child-rearing skills are summarized in her book, "I Will Beat Yo Ass."
Another comedy television show, "The Colbert Report," parodied proposed legislation by a Van Nuys lawmaker that would ban the ubiquitous incandescent light bulbs in favor of compact fluorescent lamps.
State legislators say they want to solve the state's health care crisis, address overcrowded prisons and take the next step in shoring up California's aging infrastructure, but the spanking and lightbulb proposals have been hogging the media spotlight.
Every year, a legislator or two seems to produce a bill that is widely considered so outside the mainstream of statutory norms that it is widely ridiculed and scorned.
While this year is no different, the national attention comes at a delicate time for lawmakers. Their public opinion ratings have improved after a string of accomplishments, and many legislators see this year as an opening to persuade voters to relax term limits.
"The Legislature does well when it tackles traditional issues like public works," said John Pitney Jr., a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College. "They get into trouble when they go off on tangents. It's sort of like students and their essays. Good essays stay on topic, and bad essays are goofy. ... And the spanking bill is on the goofy side."
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
As well they should. I think the woman that introduced the 'no spanking' bill has no children. Now how can this person tell parents how to raise their kids?
Indiana Proposal Would Hold Passengers Accountable In Certain Accidents Bill Moves To Full House
POSTED: 6:35 am EST February 15, 2007
A bill that would require unhurt passengers to try to get help for injured drivers in a crash is headed to the full Indiana House for approval.
The House Courts and Criminal Code Committee unanimously approved the legislation Wednesday after it was merged with another bill detailing standards for coroners.
"This was a very, very good day," said Judy Hoopingarner, who pushed for the driver aid bill following the death of her son, Thomas Hoopingarner, a 17-year-old junior at Fairfield High School.
Her son died in November 2005 after a crash that left his vehicle inverted and underwater in a pond in northern Indiana and two teenage passengers left without seeking help, according to authorities. Noble County Prosecutor Steven Clouse was forced to close the case in December 2005 because no laws on the books supported filing charges against the teens.
State Rep. Tim Neese, R-Elkhart, authored the bill, which would make failure to aid an injured driver or seek help in such cases a Class C misdemeanor punishable with up to 60 days in jail and a maximum $500 fine.
The merged bill could come up for a vote in the full House next week, Neese said.
HAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, good one! Love it when these lazy b***ards try to pretend they're not picking the low-hanging fruit.
A great day, in fact, if you're a fan of Bills of Attainder.
Californians daily prove the old saying: "Years ago the U.S. tilted on its side and all the loose nuts in the country rolled to California."
California. Home of the low hanging fruit.
I support a ban on spanking incandescent bulbs.
Why is it that it's always some woman that's lost a kid that goes on a 'Legislative Crusade' to have asinine laws passed?
This bill is a perfect example of 'Legislating Morality'.
For G*d's sake...the car was in a pond. I can only think of a very small number of circumstances under which that might happen where there would not be some type of violation of laws against reckless driving, careless endangerment, negligent homocide (in a case resulting in death), failure to report an accident involving death or injury, fleeing the scene/hit and run, and if the vehicle were abandoned, I'm sure the state of Indiana would have some kind of law about littering in wet land...
That "Absolute Moral Authority" they are given by some, I guess
That pic is slightly...erotic.
I hope this was sarcasm? Florescents give some people headaches, and others who are prone, have seizures (because of the flickering). Frankly, I'd like to have a choice. I'm one who gets headaches.
...like the ban on Oleo in Wisconsin--which fragments still remain.
Margarine has to be sold in one-pound quantities, made of specific oils, have a specific color, and must meet labeling requirements before it can be legally sold in the state
Oh, and it's still illegal to serve margarine to a customer in a restaurant or any other public food establishment unless the customer specifically asks for it.
can't . . . stop . . . looking . . . at . . . that . . . pic . . .
"Florescents give some people headaches, and others who are prone, have seizures (because of the flickering)."
I bought some CFLs to check them out. I have 4 of them in my living room and I don't get any flicker. They are like regular bulbs from what I can tell. That's just my experience, though. Aslo, they are supposed to last 9 years. We'll see.
Still, it's a stupid, feel-good, accomplish-nothing nanny of an idea for a law.
Resolution No. 66-17
LITTERING OF PUBLIC WATERWAYS
WHEREAS, contamination and obstruction of streams and lakes by thoughtless or uninformed persons is as destructive, unsightly and uneconomic as is the littering of highways, roadsides, and countryside.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Indiana Conservation Council, Inc. in convention assembled this 19 th day of June, 1966, at Mitchell, Indiana that support is hereby given to the principles of legislation that would enable an adequate and proper enforcement of present anti-litter laws; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this body supports adoption of such further regulations as might be necessary to better control littering of the public waters of the State.
Incredibly, the other major newspaper in the area, The San Jose Mercury (Murky) News, had an article with a similar tone less than a week ago. It was posted on FR but I'm too lazy to look for it.
The government banned 5 gallon toilets.
Wake up already.
The same people who want "Big Brother" out of the bedroom want Big Brother in the bathroom, living room, kitchen, etc.
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