Garcetti's commercials labeled Greuel "DWP's mayor, " a reference to the Department of Water and Power, whose workers financed ads to help install her at City Hall.

NPR: Garcetti Holds Slim Lead As LA Picks New Mayor

And if 2009 sees the inauguration of a greener president, he or she will now have the power to dictate stricter fuel efficiency, in the form of lower CO2 emissions, without reference to Congress.

ECONOMIST: The Supreme Court breathes down the government's neck

"The society is concerned that there are real dangers in government's wish to write into law that it should have the power to directly fund higher education partnerships and collaborative activities in 'strategically appropriate' circumstances without reference to independent knowledge experts in Hefcw, " it says.

BBC: Learned Society concerns about control of universities