LETTERS
Hedy’s Patent
You may find it of interest that the Hedy Lamarr (real name Hedy Markey) patent referred to in your Feb. 9 front-page story about Boeing was obtained by my former law firm, Lyon & Lyon. (Needless to say, I was not there then in 1942!)
Some say that her concept also was a forerunner to current cell phone technology.
As you probably know, Lyon & Lyon dissolved as of August 2002, and most of us in the OC office joined Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP (as did some from the L.A. and Silicon Valley offices) and established Orrick’s OC office.
L & L; was a 101-year-old patent law firm at the time of its demise. Here’s a copy of the patent.
Sam Stone Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP
Irvine
Sacramento Scorecard
Nine of 11 state legislators representing Orange County posted “A” grades for votes last year on high-priority taxpayer legislation, according to a scorecard from the California Taxpayers’ Association.
State Senators Dick Ackerman (R-Fullerton), Ross Johnson (R-Irvine) and Bill Morrow (R-Oceanside) all scored 100% and received an “A.” Joe Dunn (D-Garden Grove) scored 12% and received an “F.”
Among Assemblymembers, an “A” was given to Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel), John Campbell (R-Irvine), Lynn Daucher (R-Brea), Tom Harman (R-Huntington Beach) and Todd Spitzer (R-Orange),who all scored 100%,and Ken Maddox (R-Garden Grove), who scored 95%. Lou Correa (D-Anaheim) scored 70% and received a “C.”
Of the 120 state legislators, 38 supported all 20 of the taxpayers’ association’s positions. Sixty-nine members flunked the taxpayers’ test, voting with the association less than 40% of the time.
All 45 legislators who earned an “A” are Republicans, representing 96% of the GOP delegation. All 69 legislators who received an “F” are Democrats, representing 95% of their delegation. Correa was one of only three Democrats to achieve a “C” and his 70% score was second-highest in his party.
The California Taxpayers’ Association hopes that the Democratic side of the aisle in the future can be more responsive to taxpayers and less responsive to advocates of higher taxes and spending.
The complete scorecard for all legislators is available at www.caltax.org.
Larry McCarthy
President
California Taxpayers’ Association
Sacramento
Family Leave
With the new year, California has launched the Paid Family Leave insurance program. This provides a partial wage replacement benefit to employees who must provide care for a seriously ill family member or who need time to bond with a new child.
This employee-paid benefit is actually an expansion of the existing State Disability Insurance program. It will replace approximately 55% of lost wages for up to six weeks during a one-year period. The State Disability Insurance tax has increased 0.08% to help pay the initial cost of Paid Family Leave benefits, and the Employment Development Department will administer these benefits beginning July 1.
As might be expected when California becomes the first in the nation to implement such a program, there could be some confusion and anxiety over how it will operate. Through its Web site (www.edd.ca.gov), special brochures and other materials, the Employment Development Department hopes to educate California employers and also help them educate their employees about this new benefit.
Together, the Employment Development Department, employers and employees can make this program successful for all Californians as they balance the demands between work and family responsibilities. The program should also allow employees to return to work more able to focus on their work responsibilities.
Loree Levy
Deputy Director, Public Affairs Branch
California Employment Development Department
Sacramento
