Republican Senators: Listen to You Constituents, Represent California Values, and Pass the Budget

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Rico Mastrodonato
Northern California Director
California League of Conservation Voters

The California League of Conservation Voters is a grassroots organization that represents over 35,000 members across the state – and I speak from the grassroots.

Every night we talk to hundreds of Californians one on one, Democrats, Republicans and Independents and the overwhelming feedback we hear is Californians care deeply about the environment. We care about clean air, safe drinking water and global warming – we care about our future. Californians also want their government to do more to protect the environment and the effects of climate change.

Senate Republicans are not listening to Californians. Senate Republicans want to gut the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) if they are to pass this budget. CEQA is our environmental ‘bill of rights’ and policy that was signed into law almost 40 years ago by then Governor Ronald Reagan. CEQA ensures we use the best technology and practices as we continue to grow and develop the state. CEQA will make sure we do our best to reduce global warming emissions when we expand refineries like the one I spoke in front of--Conoco-Phillips in Martinez Friday morning.

Gutting CEQA is not acceptable and goes against core values for Californians.

Let me share a few statistics from a statewide poll conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California, the preeminent non partisan polling institute, a few weeks ago.

• 81% of Californians think we need to take steps right away to address global warming

• 82% of Californians think global warming pollution is a serious threat to our economy and our quality of life.

Gutting CEQA to pass this budget – what the Senate Republicans intend to do – is a slap in the face to the vast majority of Californians.