Legislature

The end of a two-year legislative session is a showcase of the most anti-democratic tendencies of our political system, and this year will be no different. Last-chance votes on legislative proposals loom at the same time as lawmakers do their most prolific fundraising of the year. But this end of session might also bring votes on three reforms that could shake up democracy in California.

In 2002 I stood up in front of the U.S. Senate Energy Committee and presented reasons why Enron had caused the so called “California Energy Crisis.”  I was alone that day on a panel of senior regulators and energy officials.  My picture in the New York Times the next day captured the puzzled looks of my more important panelists as I failed to support the consensus that nothing was wrong.  

The much awaited hearing in the Senate Utilities, Energy and Communications Committee this morning was largely a dud, but it offered some key admissions by the utilities and energy regulators.
 
Despite widespread warnings to the contrary, in the report issued by energy regulators and So Cal Gas that was the subject of the hearing, there will be no blackouts this summer due to Aliso's closure.