Word: pass
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 2000-2009
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...White House. Under the Clean Air Act, California has the right to enforce air-pollution standards that are tougher than the rest of the nation's rules - provided the EPA gives it a waiver. In the past, such waivers had been all but automatic - but when California tried to pass stricter emissions standards for vehicles, the Bush EPA balked, setting up a string of legal battles. California pressed its right to green its millions of cars and trucks; U.S. automakers claimed that if California could go its own way, the result would be a patchwork of different fuel-efficiency standards...
Even if the controversial budget measures pass, state officials say California must still trim $15.4 billion from its budget. If the propositions fail, as the polls portend, Schwarzenegger says the necessary cuts climb to more than $21 billion. (His proposals do not include tax increases. The governor and legislators already filled a $40 billion budget hole in February in part with $12.8 billion in temporary tax hikes...
...crisis is compounded by the way California's government works. In most states, the legislature can pass a budget by simple majority vote. The politicians haggle and horse-trade, but a budget eventually gets passed and life moves on. In the Golden State, bitter partisanship is exacerbated by a constitutional rule requiring a two-thirds majority in the legislature to pass either a budget or new taxes. Meanwhile, the state's nearly 100-year-old system of ballot initiatives has progressively tied state government in Gordian knots...
Early in his term, Schwarzenegger tried to pass a series of conservative reform initiatives only to be soundly defeated by liberals led by the powerful California Teachers Association (CTA). This time around Schwarzenegger has let the CTA and other interest groups lead the effort to pass the budget measures. But the relatively few voters following the arguments largely remain skeptical of the proponents' basic message: "Trust us, these measures will fix the problem...
...luxury to the mountains. There's no skiing in Aspen this time of year, but there's plenty of hiking, fly fishing, biking and hot-air ballooning to be had. For its anniversary Hotel Jerome is offering a three-night History Buff package, with a guided tour of Independence Pass on the Continental Divide, as well as a nearby ghost town where the first silver in the area was discovered. Two free cocktails at the hotel's J-Bar will greet you upon your return. Rates start at $899 for three nights. 330 East Main Street, Aspen...