Jerry Brown on Adoption

“Current law allows the courts in cases of necessity and good and compelling cause to make available information regarding the birth of children who have been adopted.

“This bill would radically change the law to require when both an adopted person and the natural parent each request from the Department of Health information with respect to identity of the other that a meeting will be arranged between the two without any requirement of just cause, without any notification to the adoptive parents and without any judicial review.    Read more »

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Dr. Linda Halderman and Medi-Cal

In her official biography, Assemblywoman Linda Halderman says she closed the doors of her Selma medical practice that she opened in 2003 primarily because of the low reimbursement rate by Med-Cal, the state’s health care system for the poor.

Sixteen miles south east of Fresno, Selma, population 22,846, is 78 percent Latino with a median income of $43,683 – nearly $16,000 lower than the statewide median.     Read more »

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A Closer Look at the One ‘Job Killer’ Bill Signed by Jerry Brown

Of the five bills branded “job killers” by the California Chamber of Commerce that reached his desk, Gov Jerry Brown signed one.

The bill prevents employers – except financial institutions – from using a credit report to determine whether to hire or promote someone.

Exceptions to the prohibition include managerial slots, peace officers and positions involving access to money or confidential information.    Read more »

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Truly, a Vintage Jerry Brown Veto Message

“I am returning Asembly Bill 4055 without my signature. 

“This bill requires the Energy Commission to create a 20-member advisory commission. One Energy Commission is enough.” 

     — September 30, 1976    Read more »

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The State of the State’s Economy is Sluggish, Brown Administration Reports

The important budget news in the state Department of Finance’s September bulletin isn’t that the California took in $62 million less than expected and is now $654 million below forecast for the fiscal year that began July 1.

Being short revenue is one of many considerations influencing whether spending cuts approved as part of the budget deal in June of up to up to $2.5 billion – more than 75 percent falling on public schools — will be imposed beginning on the first of next year.    Read more »

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Piezoelectric Public Works Possibilities

An attempt to use the vibrations of vehicles on California’s streets and highways to generate electricity was among the legislation vetoed by Gov. Jerry Brown.

The bill would have ordered the California Energy Commission to pay for research on piezoelectric technology to determine if it could efficiently create power for call boxes, roadside lights and other electrical needs.    Read more »

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‘Siren Song’ Worked Once — Let’s Riff on It One More Time

(The other siren song veto message.)

To the Members of the California State Senate: 

I am returning Senate Bill 14 without my signature. 

This bill is another siren song of budget reform. It inflicts a “one size fits all” budget planning process on every state agency and function – even functions that aren’t actually managed by the state so long as they receive any “benefit” from it.    Read more »

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“How Often Do Governors Say No?” — The October 2011 Official Update

Senate Committee on Governance & Finance

State Capitol, Sacramento, California 95814

October 10, 2011

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How Often Do Governors Say No?

Each bill passed by the Legislature shall be presented to the Governor.  It becomes a statute if it is signed by the Governor.  The Governor may veto it by returning it with any objections to the house of origin, which shall enter the objections in the journal and proceed to reconsider it.     Read more »

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A Veto Message that Is Classic Jerry Brown

To the Members of the California State Senate;

I am returning Senate Bill 547 without my signature.

This bill is yet another siren song of school reform. It renames the Academic Performance Index (API) and reduces its significance by adding three other quantitative measures.

While I applaud the author’s desire to improve the API, I don’t believe that this bill would make our state’s accountability regime either more probing or more fair.    Read more »

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Brown Says No Warrant Needed for Cell Phone Searches

Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill Oct. 9 that would require search warrants before the contents of a person’s cell phone can legally be examined.

“Courts are better suited to resolve the complex and case specific issues relating to constitutional search-and-seizures protections,” Brown wrote in a three-sentence veto message.

The bill would have overturned a California Supreme Court decision issued in January that said law enforcement officers could lawfully search the cell phones of people who they arrest.    Read more »

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