Governor
New Bureau of Environmental Justice Seeking Funding and Enforcement Power?
In February of 2018, California Attorney General Xavier Becerra created the Bureau of Environmental Justice within the Environment Section at the California Department of Justice. The mission of this agency within an agency is “to protect people and communities that...
Is There Liability for Enacting Unconstitutional Laws?
I have occasionally been asked whether there is any recourse when the Legislature and Governor enact a law that violates the state and/or federal constitutions. Obviously, the first action would be to challenge the enacted bill in either a state...
New Suburbanism – A Smart Alternative to ‘Smart Growth’
Solutions to California’s housing shortage invariably focus on increasing the density of preexisting cities and suburbs. Legislative solutions include SB 375, passed in 2008, which “incentivizes” cities and counties to approve high density land developments, and the failed (this time) SB 50,...
High Speed Rail’s Top Consultant Suspended After Assemblyman Requests Ethics Investigation
Assemblyman Jim Patterson says it took almost three years to get approval for an audit of the California High Speed Rail Authority… and what an audit it was. “The ruling Party really pushed it off,” said Patterson, a Republican from...
Choosing Judges in California
Members of the California judiciary are selected in one of two ways. The first is for trial judges, those of the Superior Courts, and the second is for appellate court justices. Trial judges are elected by voters at an election...
Cal Chamber Annual Job Killers List Down to 5 Bills
The annual Job Killer list by the California Chamber of Commerce grew this year to 31 bills in 2019. The Job Killers are identified as harming California’s economic growth and job creation should they become law. That list is now...