Dim Lawmakers

What more embarassment can they bring to the legislature? This kind of thing seems to trivialize the environmental movement and gives people around the globe something to laugh at Californians about.

Sacramento Bee: Legislators want to turn out the lights on incandescent bulbs

Assemblyman Lloyd Levine, D-Van Nuys, said the intent of his bill is to phase out the standard, incandescent bulb in favor of a more energy-efficient model.

Legislation is needed because many consumers, faced with a much cheaper retail price for a traditional bulb, don't realize that an energy-efficient model can burn 10 times longer and save perhaps $55 per bulb in the long run, Levine said.

Levine said his proposal would ban the sale of incandescent bulbs by 2012.

Assemblyman Jared Huffman, D-San Rafael, announced Tuesday that he has created a separate bill to ban incandescent bulbs by 2018, thus providing a 10-year phaseout period.

Huffman and Levine said late Tuesday that they will work together on merging the two measures, but they have not yet agreed on specifics.

Lightbulb jokes anyone?

The Speaker's Lead on Global Warming

One of Speaker Fabian Nunez' legacies will be AB 32 - a measure which imposed a cap on all greenhouse gas emissions, forcing California to cut pollutants by 25% by 2020.

Nunez has been lucky to lead on an issue that is growing in importance, and most importantly for a politician, growing in press coverage. The California move to lead the nation in environmental policy will be a key focus of Presidential contenders in 2008, and a February primary give a national stage to California's work on environmental protection.

But who is that woman in the background? I can't remember; and it seems the Speaker can't remember either.

Fran Pavley was the author of AB 32. Well, at least until the Speaker stepped in. She introduced the bill in December 2004 with co-authors Chan, Laird and Simitian. The bill had gone through three amendments and passed out of the Assembly adding Koretz and Chan as additional co-authors, still with the Speaker's authorship nowhere to be found. Finally, 18 months later, in April of 2006, the Speaker took over the legislation. It was clearly part of a deal to get it passed in exchange for pushing her into the background.

Pavley did the right thing to the bill passed with only a secondary concern about taking credit for the measure. But now the Speaker is flying around the world as a champion of environmental protection, while she is a termed-out member waiting for the chance to run against a member of Nunez' leadership team.

The Speaker owes Pavley, and should support her run for Senate. He has gained bucket-loads of media coverage and earned a legacy on the shoulders of this unassuming diligent and passionate legislator.

It reminds me of that old, demeaning saying: "behind every successful man is a good woman." Well, in this case, behind the Speaker is a former legislator who is waiting to find out if she will be left behind.

Great Democrat, Wrong District

Last year there was an extrordinary Democratic Candidate for the Assembly who was unfortunately in the wrong district at the wrong time. Jonathan Levey is an attorney in Los Angeles. He was supported by the San Fernando Young Democrats, endorsed by the LA Weekly and the Los Angeles Times, and raised plenty of $$, but he was in a field with three other strong Democratic candidates and ended up finishing somewhere in the dust of Julia Brownley.

Jonathan was unique and let's hope that he can find a district that would be a better match for him (AD 40, the Lloyd Levine seat maybe?). One incredible move was the creation of a book outlining his positions. Lucky for us, it is still online and can be found here:

INTRODUCTION

CHAPTER 1: OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR CHILDREN

CHAPTER 2: CARING FOR OUR FUTURE: THE ENVIRONMENT

CHAPTER 3: NEIGHBORHOODS, TRAFFIC AND QUALITY OF LIFE

CHAPTER 4: HONORING OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS

CHAPTER 5: HEALTH CARE FOR ALL

CHAPTER 6: PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE

The 2008 election is still more than a year away. Plenty of time for Jonathan to gear up for another campaign! If not, maybe Jonathan can work to raise the expectations of voters and activists. We need more smart progressive leaders, less hacks and press release junkies.