The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

By: Assemblywoman Sharon Runner

Representing the Cities of Adelanto, Lancaster, Palmdale, and Victorville

I agree with Ronald Reagan, who said, “The most terrifying words in the English language are:  I’m from the government and I’m here to help.”  Nonetheless, every year, your State Legislature introduces thousands of bills in an effort to “help” Californians. 

Certainly, a few new laws would be good for our state.  We need to get tougher on crime and we need to peel back government bureaucracy.  Unfortunately, the overwhelming majority of bills are bad for hardworking families and many are down right ugly.

Seeing as how the Legislature’s deadline for passing bills out of their house of origin recently passed, I thought it would be a good time to highlight what your state politicians have done for you lately.  This list includes some of the best bills that were defeated and some of the worst bills that were approved by the Majority Party.

THE GOOD:

AB 84 (Nakanishi R-Lodi)

Offered tax deductible health savings accounts in conformity with federal law

Failed passage in Assembly Revenue and Taxation Committee

AB 303 (Spitzer R-Orange)

Designated gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated as a violent felony

Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee

AB 974 (Fuller R-Bakersfield)

Expanded career technical education by allowing ROP’s to offer Partnership Academies

Failed passage in Assembly Appropriations Committee

AB 1615 (Runner R-Lancaster)

Required businesses to verify legal status of employees through a Federal pilot program

Failed passage in Assembly Business and Professions Committee

THE BAD:

AB 8 (Núñez D- Los Angeles )
Taxes employers to expand government healthcare that includes illegal immigrants 

Passed Assembly 47-32

AB 504 (Swanson D-Alameda)
Forces employers to pay employees while they are on strike 

Passed Assembly 43-32

AB 508 (Swanson D-Alameda)

Provides food stamps to drug dealers

Passed Assembly 42-34

AB 1109 (Huffman D-San Rafael)

Bans the incandescent light bulb

Passed Assembly 49-29

THE UGLY:

AB 43 (Leno D-San Francisco)

Legalizes gay marriage

Passed Assembly 42-34

AB 1334 (Swanson D-Alameda)

Provides free condoms to state prisoners

Passed Assembly 42-36

AB 1471 (Feuer D-West Hollywood )

Mandates microstamping of the ammunition of law-abiding gun owners

Passed Assembly 44-31 

AB 1634 (Levine D-Van Nuys)

Enacts a statewide mandatory spay and neuter law for all cats and dogs

Passed Assembly 41-38