Eerily prescient

Electablog, May 5, 2005:

Too often, voters don't realize that the endless and wanton attacks are part of the game. And in this environment, we always come out the losers. Why? Because as long as we are determined to hate each other because of political affiliation, we can't come together to fight for the things that are in our common interest (the very notion that we even have a common interest has been all but obliterated). And that's just where the lobbyists want us.

SF Chronicle, today:

Fran Pavley's AB1700 is the type of legislation that would pass overwhelmingly if politicians were convinced their constituents were paying attention to this one. But with hundreds of bills moving in the pipeline -- and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger dominating the spotlight these days -- Pavley's bill may be in real danger of getting killed by corporate lobbyists who are trying to protect their clients' ability to include sweeping confidentiality clauses in lawsuit settlements.

Pavley, an Agoura Hills Democrat, has authored the latest attempt to prohibit settlements that conceal a potential danger to the public -- such as a defective product, the presence of toxic waste or child molestation.

(snip)

Opponents of the bill, including some high-powered corporations and influential representatives of the tech industry, have complained that AB1700 would force them to reveal trade secrets. It's a phony argument. Pavley's bill is carefully tailored to prohibit secret settlements only when there is the known existence of a continuing public hazard. Also, the opponents' claim that such a restriction on secret settlements would lead to a proliferation of litigation is not supported by the experience in Florida, which has had such a law for 15 years.

As I said before, Pell's right. Here in California the focus is on the Governor and his political woes and the President's agenda and his woes as well. But there seems to be little focus in the state on current proposed legislation and how it affects the average Californian.


So here's a list of California Assemblyfolk, and if you don't know yours, use this handy finder to track him or her down. Why not drop yours a quick note suggesting they support a bill that would help prevent unnecessary accidents or even death because of faulty products?