New
laws abound in California, and we can thank our hard-working (or hard-headed)
legislators for putting in the extra effort for the residents of the state of
California.
Except,
not really.
With the
defeat of comprehensive school choice bills in 2013l (SB 451 and SB 452), the
Democratic supermajority effectively signaled their sympathies with public
sector unions and bureaucracies instead of students, parents, and schools.
Pension reforms are under attack already, and Governor Brown’s “balanced
budget” is anything but. Yet state senator Ted Lieu (D-Redondo Beach) still
claims that there is a surplus, and our schools will get more money. I attended
a seminar from Torrance Unified administrative staff. I assure you that the
leaders in our schools are not pleased with the revenue sources. District
leaders will not know their funding levels until the end of 2014, and in spite
of Governor Brown’s “pledge” to restore 2007-level funding by 2020, such
speculations assume nothing but overly optimistic expectations, as though the
average of five businesses a day, and thousands of residents with them, are not
leaving California with their tax dollars.
Some
thoughts on the new laws:
If you
park by a broken meter, you won’t get a ticket. I have a better idea. Since the
entire state is broke, and Californians are having a hard time paying their own
bills, why not give all us a break from the taxes and fees?
Teens
cannot text and drive. Good. How many teens can afford a car? How many teens
will be able to get a license? One mother shared with me that her teen has no
interest in driving. Perhaps she can’t afford the interest on the auto loan (or
the student loans, for that matter).
If you
drive an electric car, you can drive alone in the carpool lanes on California
highways, except Interstates 10 and 110. Aside from the fact that electric cars
are not sizzling hot sellers to begin with, the commuters along those excluded
interstates need the most relief. At least electric companies have to report
the number of times that blackouts black out the South Bay.
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| Sacramento in Better Days (1908!) Source: M. Steffen |
With
the "Three Feet for Safety Act", cyclists can expect some protective
space from motorists moving in the same direction. How about six degrees of
separation from my money, Sacramento?!
The
Paparazzi aggressively pursue celebrity children. Shame on them, and they should
pay for infringing their privacy. And speaking of protecting our children and
their privacy. . .
By
George, Boy George would have liked this law. Whether parents and students do,
is another matter that will come and not go away. A national first (or worst),
this law will permit transgendered students to use school facilities and join
sports "consistent with his or her gender identity". Boys will be
boys, but may pretend to be girls to be with the girls, perhaps?
Taking
effect before Jan. 1, 2015, this law will allow undocumented immigrants to earn
a driver’s license. In effect, they can obtain a legal document, even though
they reside in California illegally. Someone should go to court to block this
illegal law. Then again, the state Supreme Court just ruled in favor of an
illegal immigrant to obtain a license to practice law, too. Illegal immigrants
who drive legally will now be able to obtain illegal legal representation, too.
So much for the United States Constitution’s Supremacy clause. . .
California’s
minimum wage will increase to $9 this year, and then to $10 in 2016.
Assemblyman Al Muratsuchi (D-Torrance) supported the increase, provided that
the pay raise was not tied to inflation. Small businesses rejected the hike
before and hate it still. They will likely turn away willing applicants and
diminish the number of viable entry level workers. What’s the point of raising
the minimum wage when the prices of goods and services rise to offset the
increase? Economics was never
Sacramento’s strong suit.
The
statute of limitations for hit-and-run incidents has increased to six years. I
wonder how many of those illegal legal drivers will cause those accidents?
Starting
July 1, the state disability insurance program expands to allow workers six
weeks paid leave to care for ill relatives. What happened to Covered
California? Californians not feeling covered?
“Relocate
first, shoot them later” is the new law of the land for mountain lions. I
wonder if State Senator Lieu was behind this statute. He cares about the
puppies and the bears (no more hunting bears with dogs, you know). Now the
mountain lions can breathe easy, and hunt more easily, since the California
Department of Fish and Wildlife wardens cannot kill the ferocious felines
unless they pose an immediate threat to the community.
When
mountain lions enter inhabited regions, they immediately pose a threat! Unless
they’ve gone vegan, or transgendered, or wander into Sacramento to scare off
micromanaging politicians.
Yes,
2014 is an election year, but some of us cannot wait for these politicians to
leave office.
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