Kevin De León

Waiting for Governor Jerry Brown to Sign Bills Protecting Californians

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 09/18/2015 - 11:52

The crowded hallways outside of the Legislature's chambers may now be empty but that doesn't mean the fervent lobbying to kill pending legislation is over. 

With more than 600 bills sitting at the governor's desk, we are keeping an eye on bills that protect privacy, healthcare, elections, consumer rights and the environment. Below are some of the bills we are watching:  

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Big Oil Slick Captures Capitol

Submitted by Jamie Court on Thu, 09/10/2015 - 06:51

The power of California’s oil refiners is always felt but rarely visible in Sacramento.  It was on full display at Wednesday’s press conference when the Governor, State Senate leader and Assembly Speaker acknowledged that California's effort to lead the world by cutting petroleum use in half was dead for the year due to oil company lobbying and advertising.

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Will Bills Creating Independent Oversight of Dysfunctional Toxics Regulator Survive?

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Thu, 09/03/2015 - 05:41
Right now, bills are moving through the state legislature to force our top toxics regulator to decide when hazardous waste polluters lose their permits, and to create internal and external oversight of the scandal-plagued Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC).
 

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Bermuda Triangle, Area 51 and...Gas Price Spikes

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 06/05/2015 - 10:44

State Senate leader Kevin de Leon had some fun with critics as he pushed for unprecedented climate change legislation this week. 

On the Senate floor as he spoke about SB 350, which calls for a dramatic reduction in petroleum use, greater energy efficiency in buildings,  and increasing renewable sources, the Los Angeles Democrat said trying to figure out how gas prices are "actually formulated" is one of the great mysteries of the world, like the Bermuda Triangle, Roswell and Area 51. 

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Chamber of Commerce Doing Bidding of Big Oil on Climate Change Bills

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Sun, 04/12/2015 - 12:10

The California Chamber of Commerce's usual and powerful response to meaningful climate change legislation is to call it a "job killer."
 
In 2006, the Legislature passed groundbreaking AB 32, which aimed to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that cause global warming to 1990s levels by 2020. The Chamber said that it would be a job killer and push businesses out of the state. It lost that battle, and nearly ten years later, the predictions proved false.
 

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