Share
Californians like transparency when its comes to their elected leaders.
Voters demanded that legislation be printed three days in advance when Proposition 54 passed in 2016.
‘Mushroom Bills’ Grow in the Dark
But as CALmatters columnist Dan Walters notes in his June 14 piece, Sacramento lawmakers still find an end-around.
With the budget heading to its final approval stages, Walters decries the practice of “trailer bills” that need not be printed in advance, and take effect immediately upon passage and the signature of the governor.
“It’s why some folks around the Capitol call them ‘mushroom bills’ that sprout in the dark, fertilized with manure,” Walters writes.
Shoveling Dirt Over Bond Transparency
And now, there is more funny business when it comes to finding out about what is in a local government or school bond measure.
Senate Bill 863, which would require disclosing the financial impacts of bond measures, was amended this week. Now there is a two-year suspension of Republican Assemblyman Jay Obernolte’s “requirement to tell voters the financial facts about the bond issues they are being asked to approve,” Walters writes.
Read more Dan Walters on trailer bills and the lack of transparency at this link.
Madera County Crash Claims One Life, Hospitalizes Other Driver
13 hours ago
Bears Hire Lions’ Offensive Guru Ben Johnson as Their Head Coach
13 hours ago
Senate Confirms Marco Rubio as Secretary of State, Giving Trump the First Member of His Cabinet
13 hours ago
Musk Is Likely to Get a West Wing Office for His Cost-Cutting Project
14 hours ago
Elon Musk Ignites Online Speculation Over the Meaning of a Hand Gesture
14 hours ago
Canada Relieved Trump Doesn’t Impose Tariffs on the Major US Trading Partner on First Day
14 hours ago
Ramaswamy Won’t Serve on Trump’s Government Efficiency Commission, Eyes Ohio Governor Run
15 hours ago
Trump Issues Sweeping Pardon of Supporters Charged in the Jan. 6 Capitol Attack