“Scoping Plan” Approved, Money for LA Freeways, Having a Temp. License Tag Ain’t No Crime

California Air Resources board adopts the “Scoping Plan” for AB 32, it’s touted as the most sweeping environmental regulatory action in the history of such things.  We don’t write all that much about the environment, there’s people that are better at it than we are, so click on the link to Green Inc. Blog and read up. [Green Inc]

Here’s some good economic news.  L.A. gets $120 million in federal grant money to ease freeway congestion.  The bad news is that they’re going to use that money to turn the HOV lanes into toll lanes during peak traffic times.   Oh well.  [LA Now]

Assemblymember Ted Lieu (D-South Bay L.A. Beach Cities) filed paperwork to form an “exploratory committee” that will “explore” a possible run for California Attorney General. Bro, don’t do it.  You’re a good guy – you’re trying to stick up for homeowners-in-trouble and improve mass-transit; but you’ve only been an Assemblyman for 3 years, everyone hates the legislature and your constituents are beach volleyball players, trustafarian surfers, skate park moms and one of the biggest Whole Foods stores we’ve ever seen. Your main competition in the primary is Kamala Harris, an 18-year prosecutor who is now the District Attorney of San Francisco.  She will get serious support from Obamaland – she supported the President-Elect from day one.  She’s gonna stomp you.  Just wait awhile, your time will come.  On the other hand, maybe you’re doing this to get your name out there and you don’t really expect to run or win this time out — nothing wrong with that.  [Politicker CA]

On this day of Republican revolt against Governor Schwarzenegger, we received an email from Steve Poizner’s “2010 Gubernatorial candidate exploratory committee” telling us that more than 70% of Republican legislatures have endorsed him for Governor.  Is this a good thing?    Poizner is clearly going to win the Republican nomination, especially since Meg Whitman seems to be losing steam.  Which means we have to learn about all the boring-but-important things he’s done as Insurance Commissioner and figure out where he stands on the issues.  Ugh. Already? Do we have to? Yes. Yes we do.  [Poizner Press Release]

Oh, the California Supreme Court ruled today that if you have a temporary license tag on your car, the police can’t pull you over just because they think that those temporary tags are usually fake.  They have to believe that the actual tag on your car is actually fake.   Why this took until 2008 to decide is beyond us, this seems like basic  Fourth Amendment stuff.  Imagine if it the police were randomly pulling over people driving Honda Civics because Honda Civics are the most frequently stolen car.  Wouldn’t you expect the court to knock that down right away?  This is no different.  [California Supreme Court - People v. Hernandez]

One more thing …  if you have your temporary tag  on the dashboard under the windshield, and the cops don’t see your temporary tag on the back of your car, they can still pull you over.  [Calfironia Supreme Court - In re: Raymond C]