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9.25.2012

Saving Water at the Car Wash Now the Law

Starting January 1, 2014, new commercial car washes must either reuse at least 60 percent of their wash and rinse water or to use at least 60 percent recycled water to wash and rinse vehicles under legislation signed September 25 by Gov. Jerry Brown.

California law already requires urban per capita water use be reduced 20 percent by the end of 2020.    Read more »

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9.24.2012

New Law Means State May Finally Manage Its Intellectual Property

California may finally create a uniform statewide policy on how treats the millions of pieced of intellectual property it controls under legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The measure – AB 744 by Assembly Speaker John Pérez, a Los Angeles Democrat – comes 12 years after the Bureau of State Audits scolded the state for not managing potentially moneymaking copyrights and trademarks on everything from photographs to inventions created with state funds.    Read more »

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9.24.2012
All-Time Record Low Interest Rate on State Bond Sale

All-Time Record Low Interest Rate on State Bond Sale

California completed a $1.75 billion sale of general obligation bonds September 24 with the state paying an all-time low interest rate of 3.72 percent on 30-year bonds, according to the state Treasurer’s Office.

Retail investors ordered 58.3 percent of the offering. 

Of the bonds sold, $1 billion raise new money for various types of public works projects while $750 million refinances existing debt at a lower interest rate.     Read more »

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9.21.2012

Gov. Brown Signs Bill Limiting Liability for Commercial Spaceflight Companies

The nascent commercial space industry now has protection from lawsuits if they warn passengers that space flight is inherently dangerous under a new law signed September 21 by Gov. Jerry Brown. 

Supporters, like Virgin Galactic and the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, say that reasonable liability protections will help grow their industry. Brown agreed.    Read more »

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9.20.2012

Happy Birthday Governor Gillett!

James Norris Gillett — born on September 20, 1860 – became the GOP nominee for governor in 1906 through a deal cut between party bosses and Southern Pacific Railroad. 

As a consequence, the imposing six foot four, 240-pound lawyer was dogged throughout his four-year term as being the railroad’s vassal. He was the last governor politically anointed by the seemingly all-powerful railroad.      Read more »

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9.18.2012

“Governor Brown Signs Workers’ Compensation Reform to Cut Hundreds of Millions in Waste, Protect Injured Workers and Reduce Costs to Business”

That’s the claim made in the headline of a press release issued by the Democratic governor September 18. The first three paragraphs follow:

SAN DIEGO – Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. today signed landmark legislation – backed by both Democrats and Republicans – to reduce costs to businesses and protect workers by cutting out hundreds of millions of dollars in waste from California’s workers’ compensation system.     Read more »

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9.14.2012

Rendering Unto Renderers What Should Be Renderers’…

California renderers and collection centers must keep scrupulous records of transactions involving kitchen grease or face higher penalties under a new law signed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The same foul, food-flecked yuck restaurants pour into special dumpsters and hire haulers to dispose of is now so high-priced, haulers pay restaurants for the privilege of collecting it.    Read more »

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9.12.2012

Gov. Jerry Brown to Decide If California Children Will Have More Than Two Legal Parents

California children could have more than two legal parents under legislation awaiting action by Gov. Jerry Brown. 

Backers of the bill – SB 1476 by Sen. Mark Leno, a San Francisco Democrat – say it fixes a quirk in the law that prevents a previous custodial or biological parent from taking are of a child if the two current parents are incapable.    Read more »

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9.11.2012

Things That Happen on the Internet Every 60 Seconds

 Infographic created by Shanghai Web Designs at  Go-Gulf.com, a Dubai website design group.

(Click on the headline, then the graphic for a larger view.)    Read more »

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9.10.2012

Sacramento: Where The Fundraising Never Stops

It being an even-numbered year, fundraising doesn’t stop when lawmakers adjourn on August 31 – particularly for new candidates for legislative seats.

They will venture to Sacramento, early and often, because that’s where the lobbyists and the trade associations are that can write the checks from $1,000 and to $3,900.

Bill Quirk, candidate for the 20th Assembly District, holds a Sacramento fundraiser September 11.    Read more »

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