Feeding The Hungry

Fri, Sep 28th 2007, 16:38

Rep. Kathy Webb of Little Rock has taken the lead in forming a bipartisan caucus to propose hunger-fighting legislation in the next session beginning in January 2009. Her House Republican co-chairman will be Rick Green.

Webb is the first openly gay member of the state Legislature. There were those who thought she would be shunned and, through no fault of her own, ineffective in a legislature dominated by conservative rural males.

Not so.

"Kathy's great," Green told me. "She works hard. And she's solid as a rock. If she tells you something, you can count on it. And that's all you can ask of a legislator."http://www.nwaonline.net/articles/2007/09/20/columns/john_brummett/092007lrbrummett.txt

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Prairie Fest to be held Saturday

Fri, Sep 28th 2007, 16:29

On Saturday, Debra Shore, environmental activist and commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, kicks off the fourth annual Prairie Fest with a keynote address titled "Treating Water Like a Resource, Not as Waste."http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=44880&src=5

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Water Legislation Beginning to Boil in California Special Session

Fri, Sep 28th 2007, 15:29

The California State Senate will begin hearings next Thursday, October 4 at 9:30 a.m. on the water special session when the Natural Resources & Water Committee meets. The panel will consider competing water supply reliability bonds and bills proposing expenditures of previously authorized water bond funds.

Assemblymember John Laird, who is the lead Assembly Democrat on the water special session, introduced a package of three bills Wednesday that Assembly Democrats are advancing during the special legislative session on water.

http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2007/09/water_legislati.html

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'Green' building may become the law

Tue, Sep 25th 2007, 13:39

Legislation and utility policy put state on efficiency path

In their high-profile campaign against climate change, California lawmakers have set goals for curbing carbon emissions from cars, factories and power plants -- and now they are taking aim at homes and offices.

"Studies show that buildings, like the ones you and I sit in, are responsible for 40 percent of greenhouse gas emissions," said Assemblyman Ted Lieu, D-Torrance, by telephone Monday.

Adam Dondro, legislative aide to Assemblyman John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, said: "It's a huge piece that needs to be addressed."

Laird and Lieu co-wrote legislation this year to establish statewide building regulations that would help create new tracts of energy-efficient homes, beginning in 2013. The legislation, Assembly Bill 1058, would direct the state Department of Housing and Community Development to write new building codes that require efficient homes.

Lieu also wrote Assembly Bill 888 to require efficient commercial buildings starting in 2013 as well.

http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/09/25/news/top_stories/11_14_569_24_07.txt

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Governor appoints Colorado's first openly gay district judge

Tue, Sep 25th 2007, 10:49

September 18, 2007

David Brett Woods will become Colorado's first openly gay district court judge.

Though one liberal-leaning blog, coloradopols.com, reported that Woods is the first openly gay district court judge and views his accomplishment as an important milestone, Woods said Monday his sexual orientation shouldn't matter, and it won't influence his decisions on the bench.

"To me, it's not particularly news," Woods said. "It's never been an issue before. It's not going to be an issue. I follow the law."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5700609,00.html

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