[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Frank D. Russo

The election on Tuesday is of enormous importance to the future of the country and to California as well. We’ve learned all too well that policies in Washington, D.C., have an enormous impact on our state. Whether it’s the ability of California to adopt air pollution standards that are tougher than the federal ones, fighting global warming, health coverage legislation, or other issues our state legislators and governor are working on, there are hurdles set up in our nation’s capital that preempt us or make it difficult to act.

Witness the fact that through California Attorney General Jerry Brown we are suing the federal Environmental Protection Agency on global warming automobile standards, and if we are successful, a 19 other states will be able to follow our lead. Or, when it comes to health insurance proposals, there are thorny issues of federal preemption under the Employee Income and Security Act (ERISA).

And the War in Iraq, the economy, the collapse of the subprime market—virtually all the major issues decided and debated in Washington affect us as the largest state in the nation.

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Jenny Oropeza
California State Senator

We are killing our children by poisoning the air they breathe.

At the same time, it comes as no surprise, that those living closest to pollution sources like congested freeways, refineries and the ports also are the ones most likely to believe regional air pollution is a problem and are more willing than most to support paying for improvements, according to some of California’s top policy experts. Such experts include respected pollster Mark Baldassare, president and CEO of the non-partisan Public Policy Institute of California; Alberto Mendoza, president of the Coalition for Clean Air; and Manual Pastor, director of the Program for Environmental and Regional Equity at the University of Southern California.

Baldassare, Mendoza and Pastor were members of a kickoff policy panel I moderated Nov. 30 on Latinos and air pollution sponsored by the 27 Latino members of the Legislature. Other panels during the recent two-day event in Santa Monica focused on health impacts, economic costs, regulation, decision making and advocacy.