What will Arnold veto?
The SF Chronicle (which seems like a much better newspaper when you read it online) has an interesting article on the many last-minute bills awaiting Gov. Schwarzenegger's signature--or veto pen. Nobody seems to know what to expect. In a sidebar, John M. Hubbell writes:
Here are 10 bills the majority Democratic Party may attempt to send to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk in the final days of the legislative session, many of which are targeted for opposition by the Republican leadership or business groups. The governor's response to them will more firmly establish his developing track record.
Prescription drugs (AB1957 and AB1958, Frommer, D-Glendale and SB149, Ortiz, D-Sacramento) -- Would create a state-run Web site to help consumers buy prescription drugs from Canada and allow CalPERS, the state employees' retirement system, to establish a purchasing pool for prescription medication.
Outsourcing (Nine bills altogether, including AB1829, Liu, D-La Cañada Flintridge and SB1492, Dunn, D-Santa Ana). The Democrats' broadest legislative offensive seeks to rein in California companies that send jobs overseas. Liu's bill prohibits companies contracting with state or local governments from doing so; Dunn's bill, citing privacy concerns, limits medical information that can be processed overseas. The California Chamber of Commerce, which teamed with Schwarzenegger on workers' compensation reforms, is unilaterally opposed to the round of outsourcing bills.
'Big-box' impacts (SB1056, Alarcon, D-Sun Valley) -- Would mandate economic impact studies be performed locally before cities decide whether to allow "big-box" retailers into the area.
Minimum wage (AB2832, Lieber, D-Mountain View) -- Boosts minimum wage by $1 per hour over the next two years, from $6.75 to $7.75.
'Green' businesses (SB1703, Alarcon, D-Sun Valley) -- Allows businesses to be certified by a local agency as environmentally friendly if found to be preventing pollution and minimizing waste.
Foie gras (SB1520, Burton, D-San Francisco) -- Bans sale and production of foie gras, the fattened goose liver savored by some high-end diners but abhorred by animal rights activists because of the force-feeding method commonly used to produce it. Would take effect July 2012.
Immigrant rights (SB1160, Cedillo, D-Los Angeles) -- Would allow illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses, provided various conditions, including a clean background check, are met. The bill has been the subject of protracted negotiations with the administration.
Food stamps (AB1796, Leno, D-San Francisco and AB2013, Steinberg, D- Sacramento) -- Assemblyman Mark Leno's bill, supported by several law enforcement groups but opposed by Republicans, would allow the state to override a federal rule that bans food stamp use by felony drug convicts. Thirty-two other states have exercised their right to do so. Steinberg's bill would stop the state practice of fingerprinting welfare and food stamp recipients as a means to deter fraud.
Car purchases (AB1839, Montañez, D-San Fernando) -- A sweeping consumer protection act giving car buyers new access to a host of financing information and applying caps to loan rates used by banks and dealers. Possible three-day "cooling off" period that would allow buyers to return vehicles for a fee. The bill is being heavily lobbied on both sides; Schwarzenegger has taken political contributions from car dealerships in the past.
Drug possession (AB2274, Dymally, D-Compton and SB131, Sher, D-Palo Alto) Affects the charges applied to various types of drug crimes. The bill aims to equalize the penalty for selling crack cocaine with the penalty for selling powder cocaine. Assemblyman Byron Sher's bill would downgrade possession of less than 28.5 grams of marijuana from a misdemeanor to an infraction.
Stay tuned.