Posts Tagged: laws

A deep dive into California’s lobbying laws

State Capitol, Sacramento. (Photo: Wikimedia)

by By Tom Hiltachk, Chris Micheli and Charles H. Bell posted 04.24.2015

ANALYSIS: The 2014 Legislative Session produced a number of bills that would have substantially changed the rules that affect lobbying activity. The Legislature passed legislation that would have zeroed out lobbyist gifts and lowered the gift limits for all public officials to $200, as well as eliminated gifts of golf, spa treatments and a host of perks for public officials. However, Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed all these bills.

Election recounts: Reforms urged

A California voter casts a ballot. (Photo: Vepar5)

by JOHN MAA posted 07.21.2014

OPINION: In some states, a narrow margin of victory triggers an automatic statewide recount at no cost to the candidate. California does not have such a provision, and I believe we need one.

For the third time in five years, California lawmakers have rejected an attempt to give the California Coastal Commission, which has jurisdiction over 1,100 miles of coastline, authority to impose fines on those who violate coastal protection laws. Opponents of the plan were led by business, farm, petroleum and construction interests, and the measure failed after Assembly Democrats who backed it earlier withdrew their support.

There’s only certainty with death and taxes, it’s often said.

Now state regulations can be added to the list, thanks one of the more than 873 new laws signed by Gov. Jerry Brown, most set to take effect Jan. 1.

As usual, this year’s crop of fresh statutes is desperate. Many will neither