Courts question cap and trade, immigration and the ADA , while hardly anyone questions one state lawmaker
By CALWATCHDOG STAFF
Good morning!
After the wife of Asm. Roger Hernández filed a temporary restraining order against her husband (the couple is divorcing) last week amid allegations of domestic violence, most members of the legislature remained quiet — except for one.
Hernández sits atop the Labor and Employment Committee, nestled in Assembly Democratic leadership, yet only Asm. Matthew Harper, R-Huntington Beach, was questioning leaving the West Covina Democrat in his committee chairmanship.
Of course, it wasn’t the first time Harper asked that Hernández be removed from the position. CalWatchdog has more.
In other news:
– The U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Monday on a challenge to President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration that temporarily deferred the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants, reports The Orange County Register. Meanwhile, The Fresno Bee reports that the largely anti-trade and anti-immigration talk of many of the top presidential candidates is leaving central valley agriculture community feeling “backed into a corner.”
– If recently-asked questions from a state appeals court are any indication, trouble may be coming for the state’s cap and trade program, reports Capital Public Radio. Cap and trade is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but opponents say the program’s auction portion is an unconstitutional tax, passed without the required two-thirds threshold.
– State and federal lawmakers are considering proposals to curb what are considered frivolous lawsuits based on minor infractions of the Americans with Disabilities Act, reports The San Jose Mercury News.
– A Woodland Hills charter school offered its veteran teachers $30,000 to return to LAUSD before retiring in an effort to dump the cost of retirement benefits, highlighting how retiree benefits have become a “flashpoint in the battle between charters and traditional schools,” reports the Los Angeles Times.
ICYMI: Many California voters have mistakingly joined an ultra-conservative political party thinking they were registering as independents, while another top San Francisco official falls under fire.
Assembly:
– In at 1. Full slate of hearings.
Senate:
– In at 2. Appropriations hearing at 10 a.m.; Business, Professions and Economic Development hearing at 2 p.m.
Gov. Brown:
– No public events scheduled.
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