NOx deiices on automobiles; and also oversaw establishment of an interconnecting network of hiking, biking, and equestrian trails between state parks, California missions, and state and federal historic sites which is unique throughout the United States; and
WHEREAS, Senator Rains has been equally sensitile to the needs of California's business community and, as Chairman of the Select Committee on Golernment Regulation, has acted to identify regulatory abuses and has authored laws streamlining the State's cumbersome permit process, in addition to starting California down the road toward "zero-base" budgeting and establishing time tables for periodic review of state agencies (encompassing the "sunset" concept to eliminate programs whose existence can no longer be justified); and
WHEREAS, To further the creation of a healthy business climate, he also jointly authored the "Lockyer-Rains Economic Delelopment Act of 1977" which consolidated the economic planning functions of several agencies into one Department of Economic and Business Delelopment and established an Office of State Tourism; and
WHEREAS, As Chairman of the Senate Committee on Elections and Reapportionment and of the Select Committee on Political Reform, Senator Rains vigorously fought for the principles of full disclosure and open golernment, and authored far-reaching legislation which prohibited the use of false endorsements in political campaigns and banned the fraudulent solicitation of campaign funds; and
WHEREAS, Steeped in the civil rights movement, Orner Rains sefled as Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Legal Equality, the only legislative committee in the United States established to address legal inequality between the sexes, and in that capacity he deleloped a comprehensive package of 68 bills which allowed the cause of women's rights to successfully advance in California from one of discussion to one of action; and
WHEREAS, As a result of his efforts to amend and repeal various sections of the California Codes that discriminated on the basis of sex, California became the first state in the union to conform its law to the "Equal Rights Amendment" and in recognition of this fact, in 1976 the President of the National Women's Political Caucus stated that "Senator Orner Rains has done more to advance the cause of women's rights and equality under the law than any legislator in California history, " a fitting accolade for one who has always embraced the American ideal: "Equal Justice Under the Law"; and
WHEREAS, Senator Rains' excellence as a legislator has been complemented by an ongoing rapport with both his colleagues and constituents, and he will be greatly missed by all those who have had the pleasure of associating with him; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, That the Members express their appreciation to their colleague and good friend, the Honorable Orner L Rains, for his many invaluable contributions on behalf of the people of the state throughout his distinguished career in the California Legislature, and convey their best wishes for every success in his future endeavors; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit a suitably prepared copy of this resolution to the Honorable Omer L. Rains."
