Meeting in private caucus, the majority Democrats in California’s state senate have selected as the next leader of that chamber Sen. Don Perata, D-Oakland, rather than rival contender Sen. Martha Escutia, D-Whittier. That’s good news for California business because Escutia, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, has been a key supporter of trial lawyer causes and chief sponsor of many bills backed by the litigation lobby. (Steve Lawrence, “Democrats pick Oakland lawmaker as new Senate leader”, San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 24; “Perata, president pro tem” (editorial), San Francisco Chronicle, Aug. 26). Operatives with close links to the state’s trial lawyers had waged a mudslinging campaign against Perata (Dan Walters, “Lawmakers engaged in bitter battle for control of California Senate”, Sacramento Bee, Jul. 9, no longer online).

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