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February 22, 2005

Stupid Law Time

As if California hasn't enough laws, today is the last day our state legislature can propose new laws. So our Senators and Assembly persons are rolling up their sleeves to get the dumb ones in before the deadline. Here are some of my favorites (ie: the ones that should be filed in the garbage bin asap):

Bills vetoed last year by Schwarzenegger that have been resurrected include SB 60 by Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), which would let an estimated 2 million drivers with undocumented immigration status get licenses after they submit fingerprints for a background check. [An illegal law that encourages and aids illegal activity]

Leno's bill, AB 19, would redefine state law to make marriage a civil contract between two people, not just a man and a woman. [Ignore the the fact that this bill would be in direct conflict with Proposition 22, which passed with an overwhelming majority of voters]

California would become the second state after Oregon to allow people to get a prescription to end their lives under AB 654 by Assemblywoman Patty Berg (D-Eureka) and Assemblyman Lloyd Levine (D-Van Nuys). [Yep, let's promote death]

Guns: Would require semiautomatic handguns to include a technology that stamps the gun's serial number on the cartridge to help police identify weapons used in crimes. AB 352 by Assemblyman Paul Koretz (D-West Hollywood). [Perhaps we can get it to stamp the shooter's fingerprints as well]

Income tax: Would raise the personal income tax on top earners from 9.3% to 11%, as it was between 1991 and 1996. AB 6 by Assemblywoman Wilma Chan (D-Alameda). [Higher taxes in California. Again.]

Cigarettes: Would require that all cigarettes sold in California be self-extinguishing and would ban smoking on coastal beaches. AB 178 and AB 17 by Koretz. [Self-extinguishing cigarettes. Perhaps they can make them so they just won't light?]

Sexual slavery: Would make human trafficking a felony. AB 22 by Assemblywoman Sally Lieber (D-Mountain View), AB 41 by Assemblyman Leland Yee (D-San Francisco), SB 180 by Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica). [Isn't this already a felony?]

Write-in candidates: Would make a vote for a write-in candidate valid even if a voter does not also fill in the oval next to the candidate's name. In the San Diego mayoral race last year, more than 5,500 write-in votes were disqualified because voters did not fill in the oval next to candidate Donna Frye's name. AB 43 by Assemblyman Juan Vargas (D-San Diego). [What about a bill that upholds the law that says there can be no write-ins for San Diego's Mayoral general election?]

Mascots: Would ban the use of "Redskins" as a nickname or mascot name for public school sports teams. AB 13 by Assemblywoman Jackie Goldberg (D-Los Angeles). [Ummmm, yeah.]

Posted by bubba138 at February 22, 2005 12:04 PM