California Assembly Approves Right-to-Die Legislation; Bill Heads to Senate

The end of session is also the time when political gimmicks flourish.

Maynard’s husband and mother have taken on the cause since her death and were in the Assembly for Wednesday’s debate. “I’ve worked with abused children over a number of years”, Olsen said.

Brown hopes to raise $3.5 billion annually by boosting the gasoline tax 6 cents per gallon, increasing the diesel tax by 11 cents and creating a $65 vehicle registration fee.

California lawmakers have approved a measure that would give terminally ill patients the ability to end their lives, in a 42 to 33 vote that is seen as reflecting a changed perception among Californians towards a citizen’s right to die.

The measure, AB 953 by Assemblywoman Shirley Weber, D-San Diego, would require police officers to record the perceived race, age and gender of each person they stop. His legislation also orders CARB to conduct feasibility studies for boosting subsidies for electric auto buyers so that low-income residents can own a Tesla Model S, Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt.

The California Assembly was scheduled to vote this week on new physician-assisted-suicide legislation that was brought back during a special session called to address health care costs.

No Toll For Walking On The Golden Gate Bridge: The body overseeing the Golden Gate Bridge may soon be barred from imposing a toll on walkers and bikers, after the Legislature sent the governor Assembly Bill 40 Wednesday.

Still, despite the passage, Governor Jerry Brown’s office has been unclear about whether he will sign the bill.

“The impact of foot and pedal power can not be overlooked as we strive to combat climate change”.

“Lawmakers may be able to get all this stuff done under pressure, but there’s inherent risk in rushing”, said Bill Whalen, a veteran GOP strategist and speechwriter who is now a research fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. More than a dozen such measures were introduced earlier this year but many have stalled following law enforcement opposition.

It passed from the Assembly floor on a vote of 43-34 and now heads for the Senate.

According to state Sen. “Because of that politicization, people have been denied reproductive services”.

“A life lived in pain is not bearable for some people”, he said. State Sen. Joel Anderson, R-Alpine, represents District 38.

That idea, discussed with Republican lawmakers who strongly oppose a fee but whose votes would be needed, has not yet been formally written into a bill. Law enforcement can collect DNA samples from individuals charged with a felony. “Why would we want to take that from her?”

The bill has support from Silicon Valley’s major tech companies, including Google, Apple, Facebook and Twitter and moves toward Gov. Brown’s desk at a particularly important time.