Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
 
Old 03-05-2011, 05:54 AM
 
Location: SW MO
23,593 posts, read 37,336,493 times
Reputation: 29336

Advertisements

NOT! The more things change (like administrations) the more they stay the same. But then again, who could argue that California needs over 2,000 new laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2012, or sooner if they have urgency clauses.

More than 2,000 Pieces of Legislation Introduced in February at californiascapitol.com

When I was working in Legislation for the state, a copy of every bill introduced and/or amended came across my desk and I had to peruse them all to determine which ones wee needed to track or analyze fully. Each year I kept what I called my SUB File ~ Stupid Useless Bills.

I get the feeling that if I was still there, this year I'd need a whole file drawer for them instead of just a folder.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 03-05-2011, 12:37 PM
 
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
12,460 posts, read 20,005,157 times
Reputation: 4365
So you're bothered by the government doing a lot of work? Would it be better if they introduced no bills?
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-05-2011, 12:45 PM
 
Location: Sacramento
14,044 posts, read 27,126,435 times
Reputation: 7373
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curmudgeon View Post
NOT! The more things change (like administrations) the more they stay the same. But then again, who could argue that California needs over 2,000 new laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2012, or sooner if they have urgency clauses.

More than 2,000 Pieces of Legislation Introduced in February at californiascapitol.com

When I was working in Legislation for the state, a copy of every bill introduced and/or amended came across my desk and I had to peruse them all to determine which ones wee needed to track or analyze fully. Each year I kept what I called my SUB File ~ Stupid Useless Bills.

I get the feeling that if I was still there, this year I'd need a whole file drawer for them instead of just a folder.
That's the real problem here, you should just be reviewing them electronically. Eliminates the need for floor space, and you can do it from home!
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-05-2011, 01:00 PM
 
Location: SW MO
23,593 posts, read 37,336,493 times
Reputation: 29336
Quote:
Originally Posted by NewToCA View Post
That's the real problem here, you should just be reviewing them electronically. Eliminates the need for floor space, and you can do it from home!
You'd go blind. Four mornings a week (the "full time" Legislature only works three and a half days a week) I'd receive bill stacks which, during introduction periods, could contain 300-400 bills. With experience it was much faster to flip through them as I weeded out those in which we'd obviously have no interest or policy issues that it would be to pull them up one-by-one. Those I'd discard.

On the next go-through with the ones that were left I'd read the Legislative Counsel's digest, always on the first page. That would eliminate another batch.

Those that survived the second cut I read more thoroughly. I knew what to look for because I knew the relevant codes and could disregard much of what was in many of the bills, zeroing-in on the issues that might affect our department and programs. Those were the ones I'd assign out as FYI, Watch or Analyze.

This is one instance in which scrolling through a computer would have slowed me way down.

When it comes to Legislation ~ Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made. Otto von Bismarck

The Legislature could take a page from the Hippocratic Oath: "First do no harm."

Of course, Charles Dickens wasn't too far off when he wrote the line for Mr. Bumble: "The law is a ass and a idiot."

My SUB file was electronic. I merely compared volume.

Last edited by Curmudgeon; 03-05-2011 at 01:36 PM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-05-2011, 01:05 PM
 
17,386 posts, read 11,902,357 times
Reputation: 16131
Quote:
Originally Posted by Curmudgeon View Post
NOT! The more things change (like administrations) the more they stay the same. But then again, who could argue that California needs over 2,000 new laws taking effect Jan. 1, 2012, or sooner if they have urgency clauses.

More than 2,000 Pieces of Legislation Introduced in February at californiascapitol.com

When I was working in Legislation for the state, a copy of every bill introduced and/or amended came across my desk and I had to peruse them all to determine which ones wee needed to track or analyze fully. Each year I kept what I called my SUB File ~ Stupid Useless Bills.

I get the feeling that if I was still there, this year I'd need a whole file drawer for them instead of just a folder.
People just don't get it's not just high taxes that affect the economy. Every one of those laws means a new hoop for residents and businesses to jump through.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-05-2011, 01:07 PM
 
Location: Conejo Valley, CA
12,460 posts, read 20,005,157 times
Reputation: 4365
You could automate the process, given the sort of bias that would exist in such a process of elimination the automation would likely prove more useful.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 03-05-2011, 01:36 PM
 
Location: SW MO
23,593 posts, read 37,336,493 times
Reputation: 29336
Or perhaps Mr. Bumble began his line with, "user_id..."
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:


Settings
X
Data:
Loading data...
Based on 2000-2020 data
Loading data...

123
Hide US histogram


Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > U.S. Forums > California

All times are GMT -6.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top