Reconvenes

No Major Energy Issues Eyed by California Legislature

As the governor’s state-of-the-state address underscored last week, the California state legislature reconvenes this week with few, if any, major energy issues before it at the start of the 2006 gubernatorial election year, and some of the Sacramento-based industry representatives told Daily GPI they agree with this first-of-the-year assessment.

January 10, 2006

Boxer Plans Bill to Sever Auditor, Client Financial Ties

When the Senate reconvenes this week following a month-long recess, Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) said she plans to introduce legislation that will require auditors to maintain financial independence from their clients. The bill, prompted by questions about Enron Corp.’s close ties to outside auditor Arthur Andersen LLP, specifically would bar accounting firms from providing management consulting services to the companies that they audit.

January 23, 2002