[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

A group of California business leaders are lobbying for a loophole in the California Environmental Quality Act. Gary Patton, writing forthe California Progress Report, tells us what we can do about it.

The chairman of the California Air Resources Board quit -- or was fired -- on Thursday after dragging his feet on emissions regulations. Or atleast that's what the governor's office says; Robert Sawyer saysotherwise.

Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and other Democrats are feeling the political backlash for their efforts to modify term limits, according to Dan Walters.Núñez faces opposition to the plan from Governor Schwarzenegger, whowants redistricting reform in return, and the Professional PeaceOfficers Association, who are upset about Núñez and other Democratsbacking prison reform.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Gary A. Patton
Executive Director
Planning and Conservation League

We’ve just gotten news that a group of California business leaders have petitioned Governor Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders to break our best environmental laws. They’re demanding that the Legislature rip a hole in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to give their businesses a free ride on global warming pollution.

The petition is an unofficial declaration of war against CEQA, and California’s new global warming program, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, signed by Governor Schwarzenegger just nine months ago.

Here’s what I wrote the Governor, California Senate leader Don Perata, and California Assembly leader Fabian Nunez:

"RE: Business Attack on the State’s Global Warming Prevention Efforts

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger, Senator Perata, and Speaker Núñez: