Schwarzenegger Administration Floats 25-cent Fee on Single-Use Plastic and Paper Bags

Weeks after rejecting a Democrat-backed fee proposal to keep state parks open, the Schwarzenegger administration is proposing shoppers be assessed a 25 cent fee for each single-use paper or plastic bag – up to $2.00 per transaction – to pay for a variety of state recycling efforts.

“Requiring stores to charge and remit a fee for the distribution of single-use carryout bags will help the state and local governments to offset the environmental and social costs of single-use carryout bags,” says a summary of the idea which, sources say, has been discussed with members of both the Governor’s Office and the Department of Conservation, which oversees the state’ bottle and can recycling program. Read more »

8.28.2009

State Schools Superintendant Jack O’Connell Offers His Top 10 Back-To-School Tips

In the days leading up to the start of school, put your children to bed a little earlier each night until they get used to the regular wake-up time to go to school. A well-rested and alert student learns better in school. Doctors say elementary and middle school aged students typically need 10 to 12 hours of sleep, while high school students need between eight and nine hours.

8.28.2009

Attention Civics Teachers and Law Professors — An Interesting Debate Topic

Sales of t-shirts and other political merchandise using the names of American soldiers killed in Iraq would be banned under a bill pending in the state Senate.

The measure expands California’s protections of the commercial use of a dead celebrity to include “any natural person whose name, voice, signature, photograph or likeness has commercial value either at the time of his or her death or because of his or her death.” Read more »

8.27.2009

They Just Keep Getting Windier and Windier — Chuck DeVore’s Latest Campaign Missive

Dear Fellow American, More than once she’s been rated “the most liberal” member of the U.S. Senate.

The nonpartisan “Almanac of American Politics” described her as “the personification of the feminist left.”

And one commentator called her “the political equivalent of fingernails on a chalkboard.”

Her name is Barbara Boxer. And she’s up for re-election. Read more »

8.26.2009

Good Point

“A crossroads is where two paths meet and create four options.” Read more »

8.26.2009

Progress on Water Legislation?

Sacramento, August 26, Shortly Before 10:00 AM — Lobbyists for the Association of California Water Agencies and one of the Central Valley’s more powerful water districts entered the state Resources Building at 9th and O Streets. That suggests a morning meeting at the Department of Water Resources, which is headquartered there, to try to find a consensus on parts of the bills on water pending in the Legislature. Read more »

8.25.2009

High Comedy

High isn’t one of the most common words used in the English language.

The Top 10, in descending order, are: the, of, to, and, a, in, is, it, you, that.

High isn’t even on the Top 100 list.

But at 174 it ranks right up there on the Top 500.

High rears up all over the place as a noun, adverb and adjective. Read more »

8.24.2009

Tuesday August 25, 2009 — Fundraiser Options

Eight Cocktail Receptions Six Breakfasts Two Lunches One Baseball Game One Dinner Minimum Cost to Attend All Events: $21,600

*****

Jose Solorio for the Assembly 2010

Pyramid Alehouse, 1029 K Street

Sacramento 5:30-7:00 p.m..

$1,000

*****

Friends of Warren Furutani 2010

Ambrosia Café, 1100 11th Street

Sacramento 8:30-9:30 a.m.

$1,000

*****

Jim Silva for the Assembly. Read more »

8.21.2009

Watch Your Back, Jeffe

Senate Democrats have been hung out to dry by the Assembly three times in the last two months.

Last month, Senate Democrats passed a politically unpopular measure to allow an expansion of existing offshore oil drilling. Assembly Democrats rejected it. Also in July, Senate Democrats voted for a politically unpopular bill to take more than $1 billion in gas tax revenues from local governments. Read more »

8.21.2009

Who Knew That’s All It Takes?

“We will dissect a sheep brain, sheep heart, sheep kidney and the year ends with a lengthy dissection of a cat. Past students have said this has been their favorite part of the class and it helped them understand the BIG PICTURE.”

— Course Outline, High School Anatomy Class Read more »

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