Regulations

Gun safety legislation comes under fire from unusual suspects

Whatever their enthusiasm or seriousness, California gun users have a new set of obstacles, thanks to fresh legislation intended to increase firearm safety. Both changes have raised pointed questions about naivety on technology. Senate Bill 199 was introduced by state Sen. Kevin de León,

CA could tap new water regulations

James Poulos February 26, 2015

Struggling to get ahead of California’s continuing drought, officials in Sacramento have turned their attention to proposals that would crack down on water use. The latest option focused on the hospitality industry, where customers could be required to opt in for

A helmet law for bicyclers?

John Seiler February 22, 2015

No question wearing a helmet makes bicycle riding safer, much as for motorcycles. But how much of a Nanny State do Californians want? Motorcycles go much faster, usually are in traffic and are driven by licensed adults. Bicycles are driven

CA manufacturing rises — a little

John Seiler February 21, 2015

California’s hard-hit manufacturing sector is coming back, although not as much as the rest of the country. The Great Recession sliced off 18.5 percent of state manufacturing jobs. After that, from 2011 to 2014, “manufacturing employment has hovered around 12.5 million,”

Temperatures rise in CA vax battle

James Poulos February 19, 2015

The measles outbreak has injected the California Legislature with a new urgency in dealing with vaccine issues. First up is a new bill, as yet without a number, by state Sens. Ben Allen, D-Santa Monica, and Richard Pan, D-Sacramento, the latter

New signs of pattern of misconduct with Peevey, PG&E

Chris Reed February 17, 2015

The initial investigations by several newspapers and other media into former California Public Utilities Commission President Michael Peevey’s relationship with Pacific Gas & Electric quickly produced several bombshells. Emails show Peevey pressured PG&E to give money to oppose Proposition 23,

Prop. 47’s drug-law reforms inject controversy

John February 16, 2015

California’s decision to reduce sentences for some drug and property crimes has been heralded as a much needed reform of the criminal justice system. While it’s too soon to know what effect the measure is having on crime, critics charge it could jeopardize

CA’s Tesla challenges other states’ dealership laws

John Seiler February 12, 2015

California’s Tesla Motors Inc. is proving as revolutionary in selling cars as making them. It’s challenging states that mandate new cars be sold only through dealerships by pushing to offer its premium electric vehicles directly through company showrooms. The two sides

Reaching 50 percent renewable goal won’t be easy

Wayne Lusvardi February 11, 2015

Yesterday Democratic leaders in the California Senate introduced a series of bills to move the state to a goal of 50 percent renewable energy by 2030. That would be an increase from the current goal of 33 percent by 2020. The goal also

Tech giants back privacy bill

James Poulos February 11, 2015

Bolstered by crucial support from industry leaders and Republicans across the aisle, Sacramento’s most prominent privacy-rights proponent took another stab at restricting the state’s access to personal information. State Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, repackaged some of his long-cherished plans for