Governor Vetoes Bill To Give Preference to California Workers

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 967 without my signature.

This bill would provide a 5 percent bid preference if 90 percent of a business’ employees performing work on a state contract exceeding $1 million are California residents. This bill also specifies that agencies accepting proposals for the distribution of funds pursuant to the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provide a 5 percent bid preference, regardless of contract amount.    Read more »

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Seems Like News Would Be Putting More on the Streets

September 27, 2010

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Keep Drunk Drivers Off the Street

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed AB 1601 by Assemblymember Jerry Hill (D-San Mateo), which authorizes judges to revoke, for up to ten years, the license of any person convicted of three or more DUIs in a 10-year period.    Read more »

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Somewhere Well North of “Laughing Stock”…

MOCKINGSTOCK — “A butt for merriment”

— WillIam Perry’s Royal Standard English Dictionary, 1809    Read more »

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Governor Thanks State Air Board for Taking an Illegal Action

Governor Schwarzenegger Applauds Adoption of 33 Percent Renewable Energy Standard

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today (September 23) applauded the California Air Resources Board for adopting the Renewable Energy Standard regulation requiring that one-third of electricity sold in California comes from clean, renewable sources by 2020:

“I applaud the Air Resources Board for adopting regulations to increase California’s Renewable Energy Portfolio Standard to 33 percent.    Read more »

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A Question to Pose at the Upcoming Gubernatorial Debate

(Editor’s Note: Recently, The Sacramento Bee solicited requests for questions that could be posed to California’s two gubernatorial candidates, Republican Meg Whitman and Democrat Jerry Brown.  Here’s one: How are you going to balance the state budget for the first full fiscal year you are in office. Please be specific.)

In its November 2009 examination of the state’s fiscal outlook, the Legislative Analyst identifies a shortfall in the current fiscal year, which began July 1, of more than $20 billion.    Read more »

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A Budget Before the End of the Fiscal Year’s First Quarter?

“The Governor and Legislative leaders have reached the framework of an agreement, will work through the details over the weekend, and hope to come to a final agreement when they reconvene Monday.”

–Aaron McLear, Gov. Arnodl Schwarzenegger’s press secretary

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September 23 is the 85th day of the fiscal year that began July 1.    Read more »

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This Is Not Quite as Punchy an Answer As It Could Have Been

“Basically, you’ve got to sort of say you can’t just sort of appeal and appeal and appeal and appeal. So I think there has to be some change in the process by which death row inmates live on for 20, 30-odd years on death row. I think we’ve got to take that up.”    Read more »

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Democratic Majority Senate OKs Timber Industry backed Bill

It’s a rarity when the timber industry gets measures it supports through the Democratic majority Legislature but that’s what happened in the 40-member Senate August 18 on a bipartisan 32 to 1 vote.

The bill, awaiting action by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, deals with timber harvest plans, which are required by the state prior to commercial logging.    Read more »

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Here’s A Word That Isn’t Heard Very Often…

SNOKER — One who smells at objects like a dog.

From the verb, SNOKE — To pry into holes and corners, to poke one’s nose where it has no business.

As in:

“Jeez Louise, the guy at the workstation over there is quite the All-World snoker.”

“Totally, man. Snoke Central.”

-30-    Read more »

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Preference for Bidders Using California Workers Is Weighed

Companies using California workers would get a 5 percent preference when bidding on state contracts under legislation awaiting action by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The measure is a classic business versus labor face-off with unions backing the bill – California Labor Federation is the sponsor – and businesses, led by the state Chamber of Commerce, opposing it.    Read more »

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