Friday, September 02, 2011

What Was The Point Of Having A Revolution...

...when you replace one controlling government with another? Here are the big issues working their way through the California legislature.

First, the fitted sheets law:
When California’s elected officials come back from their month-long recess they face a mountain of proposed legislation (almost 900 bills are lined up and waiting), including a new law (SB432) that would require hotels to eliminate flat sheets. Not having fitted sheets on hotel beds would now be a crime in California.
I envision no-knock raids by SWAT teams.

What's that? You think no law could be stupider than that? Oh, dear reader, you do not have enough faith in the idiots in the big white building downtown. Read on, about the babysitter law:
A new domestic workers rights bill pending in California's Senate could give child care workers a slew of new benefits and leave a big dent in parents' pocketbooks.

(Republican State Senator) LaMalfa contends that casual babysitters over the age of 18 will be affected, and that parents will be legally obligated to pay minimum wage, "provide a substitute caregiver every two hours to cover rest and meal breaks" and be responsible for worker's compensation and overtime pay.
That's right, you'll have to hire a second sitter to give a break after two hours for your primary sitter. That may or may not be the intent, but it is the result of the law.

And let's not worry about who's voting!
Californians could be able to register online to vote in time for the 2012 elections if legislation headed to Gov. Jerry Brown's desk is signed into law.


I've pretty much decided that I can't worry about what happens in California anymore. Both my parents are retired, I'll let the Democrats fight to maintain my unsustainable pension promises, and I'll encourage my son to move out of the state as soon as he's able. And the day I retire is the day I pull up stakes. Until then, perhaps it's just best to laugh at the madness--and it truly is madness.

Update, September 5, 2011: Just learned about this genius of a law:
California could ban lender-initiated home foreclosures, under a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that would make home ownership a fundamental right...

The Foreclosure Modification Act, a proposed citizen’s initiative, would ban mortgagees from foreclosing on owner-occupied dwellings in the Golden State. It would further require banks and other lenders to help mortgage borrowers struggling amid financial hardship or illness...

Adjusting loan amounts would cost local governments billions of dollars in lost revenue from property taxes and other assessments, DOJ noted.

Potential state costs are “up to the low billions of dollars annually” because constitutional provisions require the treasury to replace the loss of property tax revenue to cities and counties.

In other words, banks will be required to give you your house. Amazing.

Hat tip to reader MikeAT for the heads-up on this law, which I hadn't before even heard about.

3 comments:

  1. Registering online isn't a problem if you use some type of appropriate documentation . . .the real problem is that no one cares to verify who you are when you show up to vote. The other two are ridiculous . . .Ican't even imagine why anyone would care about fitted sheets - and regular employees aren't even entitled to a meal break after 2 hours. And, don't most baby sitters wind up eating with the kids as part of their job?

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  2. Anonymous5:33 AM

    I bed both the fitted-sheet and domestic-worker laws were pushed by unions, particularly in the latter case. Hey, presto, more of the elderly and disabled in nursing homes and more kiddies in daycare facilities; more unionized workers needed!

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  3. ChemProf2:44 PM

    Sigh. My husband and I were just talking about where we'll retire if this insanity continues. I am a fifth generation Californian, and this nonsense makes me sad.

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