JESSICA’ LAW PROPONENTS TURN IN SIGNATURES
Consultant and FR Friend released the news today that legilslative dynamic duo George and Sharon Runner today turned in over 600,000 signatures to qualify the tough-on-sexual-predator Jessica’s Law measure for the ballot.
Assemblywoman Runner had this to say:
"California families have waited too long for this day to come. I lookforward to November when Californians will vote to make our neighborhoodssafer for our children and grandchildren. It is unfortunate our Legislature refused to act on Jessica’s Law, but the people have a history of showinggreat aptitude to act when the Legislature refuses good public policy. The yare doing just that by qualifying the Jessica’s Law initiative."
IS DR. PHIL OUT OF THE RACE?
* I just got off of a lengthy airline flight to a bunch of emails saying that Dr. Phil Kurzner has dropped out of the race for Insurance Commissioner. We’ve heard this rumor before, though no so widespread. We’ll reach out to Phil, and report back. Kurzner has been waging an uphill primary fight against Steve Poizner, a very nice, self-made kazillionaiire who has gained notoriety for, among other things, making a five-digit contribution to the Al Gore Recount Committee, which he told me was to facilitate his wife’s wishes to attend a fundraising event. Whatever. We’ll report more on this.
GOV’S SPOKESPERSON SAYS HE OPPOSES GAS TAX INCREASE
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s "Climate Action Team" came out with a bunch of new proposed regulations that will make California an even more expensive place to live, work and play. One of the most extreme is an increase in gas taxes. The Governor has come out strongly against that proposal. You can see the statement from his spokesperson firmly stakes out his position below. Good for the Governor. Hopefully he will come out against some of the other draconian proposals.
From Margita Thompson, the Governor’s Press Secretary:
"I want to clarify that Governor Schwarzenegger has not proposed nor does he support an increase to the gas tax. The Climate Action Team is an advisory panel tasked with developing recommendations that will aid in fighting global warming. The Governor is prepared to receive their report and review their recommendations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Combating global warming and protecting California’s environment is a priority for Governor Schwarzenegger and he will continue as a leader in this front."