California’s local governments are facing historic fiscal challenges. From San Diego to Sacramento, cities and counties are staring down budget deficits that threaten essential services. Instead of helping, the Legislature is poised to make things worse.

Senate Bill 29, introduced by Sen. John Laird, D-Santa Cruz, is a prime example of Sacramento’s misplaced priorities. This bill extends a temporary program that allows billboard trial lawyers to recover additional unlimited damages in personal injury cases. It would include “pain and suffering” damages on top of the compensation and punitive damages California already permits. This bill would allow plaintiffs – and their lawyers – to attempt to recover triple damages.

No one disputes that victims deserve fair and just compensation. But S

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