Governor Appointed Charles W. Ward of Gold...

Governor Appointed Charles W. Ward of Gold River to the Unemployment Insurance Appeals Board. A Republican, Ward, 63, previously a member of the Board of Prison Terms, replaces former Orange County Assemblyman Chet Wray, whose term expired. The job pays $76,079. Assembly Floor Action: Waste: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 72-0 vote a bill (AB 1000) by Assemblyman Steve Peace (D-Chula Vista) to allow California, Arizona, North Dakota and South Dakota to enter into a compact for the disposal of low-level radioactive waste. The waste would be buried in the desert area of eastern California, although the specific site has not yet been chosen.

Oil: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 41-25 vote a resolution (AJR 12) by Assemblywoman Jackie Speier (D-South San Francisco) urging U.S. Interior Secretary Donald P. Hodel to revise a proposed five-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan for California to more effectively preserve the state’s coastal environment.

Veterans: Passed and sent to the Senate on a 62-0 vote a bill (AB 427) by Assemblyman Richard E. Floyd (D-Hawthorne) to indefinitely extend the life of the Veterans Memorial Commission. A program to collect private donations to build a memorial on the Capitol grounds has collected only $500,000 of an estimated $1.5 million needed for this purpose.

Committee Action: Voter Registration: The Elections Committee approved a bill (AB 899) by Assemblyman Tom Bates (D-Oakland) to let Californians register to vote at the same time they apply for a driver’s license or vehicle registration. A 6-4 vote sent the bill to the Transportation Committee. The governor vetoed a similar bill last year.

Rocks: The Transportation Committee approved a bill (AB 10) by Assemblyman Richard Katz (D-Sepulveda) to require truck haulers of rock, sand or gravel to cover their loads to prevent spilled rocks from damaging automobile windshields and paint jobs. An 8-2 vote sent the bill to the Ways and Means Committee. Similar legislation was rejected last year.

Senate Committee Action: Fast Food: The Health Committee rejected a bill (SB 1460) by Senate Majority Leader Barry Keene (D-Benicia) to require fast-food restaurants to inform customers of the ingredients contained in their products, plus nutritional information such as calories, protein, carbohydrates, fat, cholesterol level and sodium content. The bill received a 4-1 vote, but required five yes votes for approval. Reconsideration was requested for another vote at a later date.

Campaign Contributions: The Elections Committee approved a constitutional amendment (SCA 34) by Sen. Milton Marks (D-San Francisco) to require the Legislature to set limits on campaign contributions and expenditures, and establish a campaign fund to be financed by voluntary taxpayer contributions on a matching basis--if the voters agree to set up such a program. A 4-1 vote sent the measure to the Constitutional Amendments Committee.