Mark Leno Talks to Bloggers

This morning, Assemblymember Mark Leno California was the guest of the premiere episode of the Politics Chat Show with Brian Leubitz of Calitics and Frank Russo of the California Progress Report.

You can listen to the show here.

Mark Leno on Budget Reform and the Internet

If he sounds a little tired, it is because this was recorded Friday night and he hadn’t slept in 40 hours due to the all night budget session (but he’s tireless).

Marriage as a Fundamental Right

Dan Chmielewski writes:

My wife and I are about six weeks away from our 24th wedding anniversary; I don’t see how allowing gays and lesbians to marry will damage our marriage or our family. The only people who matter in a marriage are the two people in it.

Or, as the Washington Post recently editorialized: The Sky Isn’t Falling.

A Free Press is a Cornerstone of Our Democracy

Recently, a Reuters photographer took a picture of George Bush’s speech for the opening of the new White House Press Room. As you can see from the picture, Bush crossed out the line, about a free press being one of the “cornerstones” of our democracy.

Assemblyman Mark Leno, on the other hand, strongly disagrees. Upon Assembly passage of legislation to provide journalists greater access to prisoners, the Associated Press reported:

The news media would be given greater access to interview prison inmates under legislation approved earlier this week by the state Assembly, setting the stage for a showdown with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

“All it does is bring some transparency to the operation of state prisons,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco. “It’s about time the taxpayers get to know how the dollars are being spent within our prison system.”

Additionally Assemblyman Leno is fighting for a federal shield law for journalists.

The state Assembly on Thursday urged Congress to provide legal protections for journalists who seek to keep their sources confidential when judges or federal authorities ask for them.

It was the second time in two years lawmakers endorsed a nonbinding resolution urging Congress to enact a federal shield law.

“The federal government has yet to pay attention to us. We want to keep our voice clear and strong,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, a co-author of the resolution. “Without it, the government is in a position to make use of reporters as their personal investigators. That does not serve Democracy well.”

The resolution passed 73-0 in the 80-member chamber.

This is a very important issue for democracy:

“The framers of the Constitution understood very well that a truly free society demands a press without government obstruction,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). “In an age when our cherished freedoms are vanishing at the hand of our own Federal Government, we must do everything in our power to uphold the democratic principles our country was founded on. Without a federal shield law, I worry about a dramatic and chilling effect on our freedom of the press and journalistic integrity in America.”

Indeed.

Looking Back at Live Earth

There is a remarkable convergence of forces all coming together and working together to stop global warming. There are now solid numbers out on the Live Earth 7.7.07 worldwide events that were so far beyond huge that your humble editor lacks the words to describe the magnitude of the event. So let me just give you some numbers:

• 2,000,000,000 – Number of participants worldwide
• 30,000,000 – Number of Live Earth videos streamed online
• 10,000,000 – Number of people who watched Live Earth on MSN
• 1,000,000 – Number of participants in 10,000 Friends of Live Earth Events in 131 Countries
• 100,000 – Number of participants at over 1,300 MoveOn house parties across America

So go calculate your Carbon Footprint today and then take steps to lower it.

NBC 11 on Industrial Hemp

More legislative progress in Sacramento:

A bill allowing California farmers to grow a controversial product passed the California Senate Public Safety committee Tuesday, NBC11’s Mike Luery reported.

The proposed pilot program would allow California farmers to grow industrial hemp.

“Thirty countries around the world are growing this. Of course, Thomas Jefferson and George Washington grew hemp. The sails of the Nina, Pinto and Santa Maria were made from industrial hemp as were the draft copies of the Constitution,” said San Francisco Democratic Assemblyman Mark Leno, who co-authored the bill.

With bi-partisan support!

Hemp is used in everything from soap to clothing to food products. It’s a multimillion-dollar industry that some conservative Republicans are supporting. Irvine Assemblyman Chuck Devore co-authored the bill.

“It’s nice that we can make money off of this,” Devore said. “It’s nice that it’ll boost the California economy; but to me, this is a freedom issue. This is about freeing American farmers to grow a crop that is legally imported into the United States every day.” [...]

The hemp bill still has a few hurdles ahead, but with some key Republicans and Democrats joining together, supporters said they believe this measure will reach the governor’s desk.

Here is video of Assemblyman Mark Leno discussing the bill:

Marriage Equality Measure Clears Key Senate Hurdle

From a press release:

SACRAMENTO, CA— The Senate Judiciary Committee moved California one step closer today toward recognizing and respecting the love and commitment that hundreds of thousands of same sex couples share by approving Assemblyman Mark Leno’s AB 43, which would allow gay and lesbian couples to marry in the state.

“I am buoyed by the support of my legislative colleagues who share the belief that denying anyone the basic human right to marry the person she or he loves is completely contrary to our cherished constitutional foundation that all people are equal in the eyes of the law,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco). “I look forward to the day that all couples regardless of their sexual orientation, are able to pursue their dreams and care for their children with full and legal protection.”

Assembly Bill 43 is nearly identical to AB 849 of 2005, which was the first proactive marriage equality legislation in the history of the United States to pass both houses of a state legislature. AB 43 would amend Section 300 of the Family Code to define marriage as a civil contract between two persons instead of a civil contract between a man and a woman. The measure respects one’s religious choice by reaffirming that no religious institution would ever be required to solemnize marriages contrary to its fundamental beliefs.

The measure is sponsored by Equality California (EQCA), the statewide LGBT civil rights advocacy organization. “Marriage is universally recognized and respected around the world and for many people is one of life’s most significant milestones,” said EQCA Executive Director Geoff Kors. “Same-sex couples in California have lived with domestic partnerships for many years, but they continue to be treated differently than married spouses. LGBT Californians want the choice to marry so that we can live our lives with the same dignity and freedom that everyone deserves.”

Currently, same-sex couples can register with the State of California as domestic partners, affording them hundreds of protections. However, same-sex couples in California and their families still are not eligible for more than a thousand federal protections offered to married couples, including family and medical leave, social security benefits, long-term care insurance and the ability to sponsor a partner for immigration benefits. Additionally, a 2003 Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling put it succinctly by declaring that the denial of marriage equality on the basis of sexual orientation is "arbitrary," and reinforces the stereotype that all people are not created equal.

AB 43 is co-authored by 27 Assemblymembers and 14 Senators, including Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senator President Pro Tempore Don Perata. A broad coalition of over 250 civil rights organizations and leaders are in support of the measure, including the NAACP California State Conference, United Farm Workers, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Chinese for Affirmative Action, CA Teachers Association, CA Nurses Association, CA National Organization for Women, ACLU and CA Church Impact, among many others.

AB 43 will be heard next in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Hopefully, this critical civil rights legislation will pass the senate. You can help by contacting your state senator today.

Update on AB 43 – The Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act

Local blogger Sam Spade’s San Francisco has the latest on AB 43.

Measure to Allow Farmers to Grow Industrial Hemp Wins Approval from Key Senate Committee

From a press release:

SACRAMENTO, CA — Assembly Bill 684, authored by Assemblyman Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Chuck DeVore (R-Irvine), which would give California farmers the opportunity to grow industrial hemp and take part in this multimillion dollar industry, passed the Senate Agriculture Committee on Tuesday on a vote of 3 to 1. Amendments were taken necessary to move the bill forward that would pilot hemp farming to four counties— (Kings, Mendocino, Imperial and Yolo—for a five year period.)

“California farmers are currently shut-out of a multimillion dollar industry because we don’t allow our farmers to grow industrial hemp, and we force California manufacturers to buy hemp seed, oil and fiber from other countries,” said Assemblyman Mark Leno. “Our enterprising and innovative farmers should not be hindered by senseless regulation. It’s my hope that by giving farmers in these counties the opportunity to supply a $270 million industry that’s growing by $26 million each year, that other counties won’t be far behind.”

Sponsored by Vote Hemp, AB 684 would regulate commercial industrial hemp farming in California, a variety of cannabis that grows up to 16 feet tall, resembles bamboo, and has no psychoactive properties. Under the bill, industrial hemp is defined as cannabis varieties having 0.3% THC or less and its cultivation is only permitted as an agricultural field crop or in a research setting. Cultivation in groves, yards, or other locations is prohibited.

“We can import hemp, we can process it into shampoo, plastics, and food, but we won’t let American farmers grow it,” said Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, who is authoring the measure along with Leno. “This bill will free our farmers to compete with foreign farmers in growing hemp, a non-drug, legal and safe crop.”

Industrial hemp is one of nature’s strongest fibers and is processed throughout the world for body care products, food, paper, clothing, automotive parts, building materials, and numerous other uses. The seed has many nutritional benefits because it contains essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 commonly found in fish, and is an alternative source of protein. Hemp also has strong environmental benefits. It’s a source for paper that could enable us to save our trees for higher end uses such as lumber. Hemp requires little or no agricultural chemicals, smothers weeds, and improves soil conditions, making it an excellent rotational crop in both organic and conventional farming.

Today, more than 30 industrialized nations grow industrial hemp and many export it to the U.S. AB 684 has tight controls on industrial hemp production that relieve law enforcement of the burden of having to discern legal hemp from illegal marijuana in common drug busts. Additionally, the amendments are meant to allay law enforcement concerns by giving the State the opportunity to evaluate the program before extending it.

The U.S. Congress has never expressly prohibited the cultivation of industrial hemp, but federal regulators have inferred that prohibition from a long-standing definition of marijuana in U.S. law. However, when that definition was debated in Congress in 1937, Senators and Representatives were told that domestic production of industrial hemp would not be prohibited.

The bill will be heard next in the Senate Public Safety Committee on July 10th.

It makes no sense that this doesn’t have 100% support — this is the definition of common sense legislation.

Sacramento Bee Editorial on AB 1358 – Complete Streets

Today, the Sacremento Bee urged support for Assemblymember Mark Leno’s Complete Streets legislation:

Currently, California’s government code is silent on the need to accommodate pedestrians, bicyclists and transit users when planning a local transportation system. That needs to change. AB 1358 would encourage local governments to work on the front end so streets were designed to include bike lanes, transit stops, sidewalks and tree cover for walkers.

Leno’s bill passed the Assembly, but it was a party-line vote, with nearly all Republicans opposed. This is mystifying. Last time we checked, Republicans walked on two legs and occasionally rode bikes. Why the opposition to this bill?

Legislative analysts say it would cost a mere $150,000 for the Office of Planning and Research to develop “complete street” guidelines mandated by AB 1358. The total cost for local governments to follow these guidelines would be about $500,000 in some years. Here in our region, Sacramento, Davis, Roseville, Folsom and other communities are already building complete streets.

As California’s population gets older, alternatives to the automobile will become even more important. At the moment, about one-fifth of California elderly don’t drive, either because they can’t or choose not to. The population over 65 is projected to double by 2030, which is why the California Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons supports this bill.

AB 1358’s next stop is the Senate Local Government Committee. This bill deserves to pass without a single nay vote. There’s no reason why protecting kids, the elderly and other people afoot should be a partisan issue.

Please contact your State Senator and urge support, this editorial is correct in concluding that there shouldn’t be a single nay vote. There is no excuse for this to stall in the senate.