There was no indication Friday that a referendum - in which voters are asked whether to retain a law - was in the works, although it hadn't been ruled out.
Uh huh. I can hardly think of something that would gather petition signatures faster than a law that gets between Californians and their cars.
Davis' spokesman Steve Maviglio said the governor would "sign the bill July 22 in ceremonies in San Francisco and Los Angeles." The governor, up for reelection this year, often schedules signing events in those two cities in order to get the greatest level of media exposure.
What, does he sign "Gray" on the bill in SF, and then fly down to LA to sign "Davis"? I know the president often signs bills into law using one pen per letter of his name, so he can hand them out as souvenirs, but at least he does it all at one time sitting at one desk.
The automakers were prepared to spend millions lobbying against 1058/1493, so I can't see a reason they wouldn't take that money and gather signatures with it. And there'd be plenty of volunteers who didn't need to be paid. Me, for instance. I think this will be the perfect issue for the November elections. It'll show just how radicalized the California government has become.