Even in California a #ReligiousFreedomHateBill has been introduced

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Friday February 28, 2014 · 10:23 AM PST

2014/02/28 · 10:23

This has gone largely under the radar, even the Rachel Maddow show from the a couple days ago missed this, but add California to the list of states where a religious freedom hate bill has popped up.

Asm. Shannon Grove, a republican from Bakersfield Ca, introduced just last week AB 2237 which provides an "exception" to the Unruh Civil Rights Act "to protect the free exercise of religion"

The Unruh Civil Rights Act provides that all persons within the state are free and equal, regardless of their sex, race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, or sexual orientation, and are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments of every kind whatsoever.
This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation that would provide an exception to the Unruh Civil Rights Act to protect the free exercise of religion.

So this "exception" to the Unruh Act under AB 2237 essentially allows any business to refuse service to ANYONE of any race, any gender, any person with any disability, any sexual orientation. All protected classes in California would be subject to discrimination if it was done so in the name of religion.

Hi-freakin-larious! So its not just an anti-gay bill, its a total discrimination bill, allowing discrimination for any religious purpose.

Religion under the law is still a very vague term. All you need is a "sincere and meaningful belief" in a religion (and it does not have to do with god) for courts to honor that religion.

California of all places. Geez.

WATCH LIVE: Urgent Drought Legislation Discussion

SacSloth

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Wednesday February 26, 2014 · 9:35 AM PST

2014/02/26 · 09:35

Urgent drought legislation being discussed now in the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Resources and Transportation. Watch live at http://www.calchannel.com/...

Watch Live: Ca Delta Tunnels to be Discussed in Committee Today

SacSloth

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Wednesday February 12, 2014 · 9:46 AM PST

2014/02/12 · 09:46

For those interested, Governor Brown's proposal to build a couple massive tunnels to divert water from Sacramento River will be discussed today in the Assembly Accountability and Administrative Review Committee at 1pm. You can catch it live at

http://www.calchannel.com/...

The SacBee has a decent overview of the matter

Brown's stated purpose is

to simultaneously improve wildlife habitat and stabilize water supplies from the estuary, a source of water for 25 million people and 3 million acres of farmland from San Jose to San Diego. Population growth, imperiled fish species and climate change have made that water supply increasingly vulnerable, and the project aims for a comprehensive fix.

The project is controversial and comes with a large price tag both economically and environmentally.

The tunnels are not the only controversial plan being put forth in California. Nearly a half a dozen Water Bond measures are being proposed. Here are links to some of these proposals.

Democratic Senator Wolk is proposing a 6.4 billion measure. The 6.4 billion figure is a downward adjustment from the original plan of 11 billion plus.

Republican Assembly Member has a 5.8 billion dollar water storage only plan that, as expected, does nothing for ecosystem conservation.

Democrat Assembly Member Anthony Rendon also has a water bond measure which he recently scaled back to a price tag of 6.5 billion dollars.

Couple other republican senators, Anthony Cannella and Andy Vidak, have also proposed water bond measures.

Anyway, interesting debates here in California. I myself am just learning all the ins and outs of the issues. I will post more updates as measures are introduced and debated.

See what progressive new laws are being introduced in CA

SacSloth

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Friday February 07, 2014 · 9:29 AM PST

2014/02/07 · 09:29

For anyone interested in Ca Politics, or interested in new, innovative, or wacky ways legislators address problems, I have for you the most important Twitter feed in the Twitter-sphere: @SacSloth

Follow me and you'll be rewarded with interesting tweets and commentary on the progressive ways law makers in Ca are addressing problems. I also call out the not so progressive laws, the regressive laws, and the ridiculous laws, that seep into the public sphere here in Ca.

Here is a sample of my tweets:

There's a lot more where these tweets came from! I someone wants more info on a particular bill, I can link to the bill for your reading pleasure. Also when a bill hits committee I can link to the analysis, and if televised, I can link to the California Channel, your free internet source for live viewing of hearings and floor events.

I haven't yet, but I also plan to diary here on bills that the community might find interesting.

Thanks to all who've already started following me based on my last post. I look forward to more followers.

If you want to know a little more about me please see my first post here.

Twitter Feed For New, Progressive, and Wacky CA Legislation

SacSloth

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Wednesday February 05, 2014 · 9:03 AM PST

2014/02/05 · 09:03

Hi all, I'm a lobbyist/attorney in Sacramento, California, and long time DailyKos blog reader. As a lobbyist, I sit around all day reading bill after bill; I go to committee hearings and sit and listen and sit and listen to legislators and interest groups talk about bills and policy (I sometimes testify too!). Half the time I'm bored to tears; but, the other half of the time, there are really interesting discussions and debates about law and policy.

It occurred to me recently that instead of passively absorbing this information, I could do something useful. Eureka!, I thought to myself, I could start a Twitter feed that informs people about new, progressive, or ridiculous bills coming out of California. Hence, the Sacramento Sloth was born.

I just started, and have almost no followers. But I have tweeted out about 20 times. Please check me out @SacSloth and see if the information I provide is something that interests you. If so, please follow me.

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