700+ new laws for California in 2011 (Are we crazy)? (Sacramento: credit, taxes)

[esmith143]

Surprise surprise. That's what the legislature does, that's its sole purpose: to pass laws. In every state. Quite often though they are not real & independent laws, they are more like amendments to existing laws.

[RedJacket]

Another way to look at it, is CA just created 725 new crimes.

[Curmudgeon]

Don't complain. This was a lean year legislatively. In a two-year legislative session they usually introduce about 4,000 bills. Half of those usually get signed. Thank your lucky stars.

Oh, yeah. They're still introducing and passing bills that will cost the General Fund/increase the deficit and Ahnold signed some.

The Dems made it clear that those Ahnold didn't sign will likely be re-introduced this year in the hopes Jerry will.

Hang onto your wallets!

[Kibby]

So ..... what would everyone think if they didn't manage to pass any laws? You would think they were "do nothings" - none of them are willing to tackle the major problems that are facing California, so they play around with 700+ laws that avoid the 1000 lb elephant that is in the room.

The public is used to this and continues to buy the "kick the can down the road, not my problem" lawmakers. Who in their right mind wants to actually deal with the disaster?

What's new about that? Money must grow on trees somewhere, the public continues to care more about American Idol and dumb "reality" shows that they do the REALITY that is about to slap them in the face.

What's the over/under on the new House of Representatives in Washington bailing out California and Illinois? Word is that Illinois is now down to their last 2 weeks unless the Fed comes through with another "bailout" - California is close behind ..... a race to the bottom, place your bets.

[esmith143]

none of them are willing to tackle the major problems that are facing California, so they play around with 700+ laws that avoid the 1000 lb elephant that is in the room.

Well, the problem is that we have a dysfunctional minority party in Sacramento. We have a budget crisis that can't be solved with spending cuts. (Which is not to say that there aren't any spending cuts to make - simply that they are by far insufficient to do any real good. Sure, you can find 100 million here and 100 million there, you can probably squeeze as much as 2 or 3 billion out of the department of corrections, but even all those cuts taken together won't come close to balancing the budget.) And the minority party is obstinately opposed to any tax increases.

And the really sad part is that the same game is playing out on a much bigger scale in Washington DC, and there the dysfunctional party just got the majority in the lower house.

[sjnative]

I read all 700+ of those new laws and boy am I tired of reading laws!!!

I know my life will be so different now than it would be if I didn't read all of those laws.

Everything I think and do will be effected in so many ways.

2011 will be so different from 2010. Because of all those laws.

[Gentoo]

Originally Posted by think first

Another way to look at it, is CA just created 725 new crimes.

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by think first

Another way to look at it, is CA just created 725 new crimes.

No.

[Ceece]

Originally Posted by Gentoo

And no.

One of those new laws actually DECRIMINALIZED pot.

[Curmudgeon]

Originally Posted by Ceece

And no.

One of those new laws actually DECRIMINALIZED pot.

No! It rolled simple possession for personal use down to an infraction. That's still a "crime."

However, a large number of those bills were mearly regulatory, not public safety related. Those that were primarily expanded the sentencing for existing crimes.