ROCKY ASSEMBLY HEARING ON KEY BILLS SEEN PORTENDING FUTURE FIGHT

A tough, sometimes testy Assembly Transportation Committee hearing this week may foreshadow future floor fights for three key Senate environmental bills. The committee, whose members include several moderate Democrats, is considered an important predictor of environmental bills' future success or failure on the floor, sources said. At a June 12 hearing, the transportation committee heard three key Senate bills, two dealing with railroads -- SB 419 (Sen. Joe Simitian, D-Palo Alto) and SB 459 (Sen. Gloria Romero, D- Los Angeles)...