Arnold Schwarzenegger has been exercising his power as the Golden State’s governor, signing 127 pieces of legislation and vetoing 87 Wednesday. 

Among the 500 bills the governor has acted on are measures to cut fines for red-light violations, a ban on debit card fees and a bill requiring manufacturers to disclose materials used in their products. 

The effort to significantly cut the fine motorists pay for making a right turn on a red light without stopping ended in Sacramento. Schwarzenegger said that “a driver running a red light, whether they are traveling straight, or turning right, makes a very dangerous traffic movement that endangers the nearby public, bicyclists and pedestrians.” 

The bill would have reduced the fine for violations involving turning right on a red light without stopping from $100 to $35. 

Schwarzenegger also vetoed a consumer protection that would have banned merchants from charging debit card users a fee with their purchases.

Consumer groups and Visa supported the measure, however Schwarzenegger maintained concern that the bill would “shift the burden of paying interchange fees from the holders of debit cards to all consumers regardless of payment type.” 

The governor also vetoed a bill that would have required clothing manufacturers to disclose on clothing labels whether any animal product was used in production of the item.

The governor said he had trepidations about the costs for both merchants and manufacturers, as well as the potential fines.  Violations of the bill would cost $500 for the first infringement and up to $1,000 for any following. 

Among the bills Schwarzenegger did sign was a measure aimed at protecting hospital patients from radiation overdoses, a measure that necessitates the California State University system guarantee admission with junior status to specific community college students and a bill requiring utilities to invest more in technology to store electricity generated by renewable sources.

To reach reporter Eleanor Walper click here.

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