Beating A Dead Bill

Katy Grimes: Last week, Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law the Amazon tax bill, AB 1X 28, which charges a use tax on purchases from out-of-state Internet sellers.

But yesterday one of the Amazon tax bills was on the agenda in the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. Assemblyman Charles Calderon (D-Whittier) presented AB 155 and the committee heard testimony heard on it – except AB 155 was put into AB 1X 28 and already signed into law.

So why is the author of one of the three Amazon tax bills —  AB 155 (Calderon), AB 153 (Skinner) and SB 234 (Hancock) — which were wrapped into AB 1x 28, still pushing AB 155 through the Senate?

I called Calderon’s office yesterday and again today and asked why the bill is being heard in the Senate, but have not gotten a response to my calls.

Board of Equalization member George Runner’s office acknowledged that AB 155 was one of the bills included in AB 1X 28 but were also perplexed that it was heard in the Senate committee yesterday.

Other Capitol sources suggest the committee may be extending a professional courtesy to Calderon, but why is anyone’s best guess.

Adding to the mystery, the Senate Governance committee analysis of the bill actually states, “On June 29th, Governor Brown signed AB 1X 28 (Blumenfield) which the identical provisions to AB 155 as well as the provisions of AB 153  (Skinner) and SB 234 (Hancock). The Committee may wish to consider the wisdom of advancing a bill that is already law.”

Stay tuned… we will keep pressing for answers.

JULY 6, 2011