Capitol Insider
The Buzz from Under the Dome Into Your Home
Polluted People: Environmental activists are urging California to become the first state in the nation to adopt a biomonitoring program, allowing consumers to test the toxins in their bodies. The Environmental Working Group recently conducted a small sample of moms and daughters with Bay Area connections. The four women found their bodies contained chemicals from some 35 different consumer products, including flame retardants. The moms and daughters are urging Capitol lawmakers to approve spending for a voluntary program that will allow anyone to be tested. The cost: between three and five million dollars with roughly one-third of the money coming from federal funding. The activists say they have a right to know what’s in their own bodies. Others accuse the group of using scare tactics to whip people up into a frenzy with incomplete data that most people won’t even understand. The American Chemistry Council says chemicals are a part of life and having them in your body doesn’t mean you’re chronically ill or dying. Expect a big fight over this one with heavyweights from the Dems, including Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata of Oakland, vowing to find money in the budget. Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed similar legislation last year. If approved this year, the California Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Health Services would run the biomonitoring program jointly.
Can You Hear Me Now? A new consumer poll shows 87% of voters want 30 days to cancel a cell phone contract without any hang-ups from the service providers. Californians used to have that right, which was taken away by the California Public Utilities Commission. Bay Area Assemblyman Ira Ruskin wants to change all that. His bill giving Californians 30 days to make sure new phone works properly got good reception from consumers but died in the Assembly Utilities Committee.
Clean Money: Hundreds of registered nurses rallied around the Capitol recently, calling for sweeping reform of the state’s political system. The nurses, sworn enemies of Arnold are sponsoring a ballot measure that places tight limits on campaign contributions from lobbyists and corporations. No surprise there, but here’s the shocker: unions are also part of the reform package. Deborah Burger, president of the California Nurses Association tells Capitol Insider: “We’re trying to exclude unions, we’re trying to exclude corporations from really having undo influence on the political system, and we’re trying to eliminate lobbyists from the whole system, so it’s really a major overhaul.” If the nurses can get enough signatures, you’ll be voting on the initiative this November.
Take Five: Jazz legend and California native Dave Brubeck was honored by the state legislature on Tuesday, May 15th with a resolution marking his lifetime achievement. The 85-year-old musician, perhaps best known for his big hit Take Five, has made more than 300 records and CDs and is still touring the world. Last year he performed in more than 80 concerts, including three tours of Europe. What keeps him going on the road? It’s his passion for music. Brubeck tells CI: “The main thing is to love it. Because it’s a hard life and that great compensation is the love of what you’re doing”. Dave Brubeck is a master on the piano but also plays cello, tuba, French horns and cymbols. Let’s hope Dave keeps playing for many more years!
To Have Your Voice Heard in Capitol Insider….Contact Michael Luery,
Capitol Bureau Chief via e-mail at michael.luery@nbcuni.com
