[courtesy of The California Majority Report]

Catherine Witherspoon, a former executive officer of theCalifornia Air Resources Board, has testified before the Assembly that thegovernor’s office placed undue pressure on the board to curtail its efforts tolower carbon emissions . Members of the Assembly, including Loni Hancock, thechair of the Natural Resources Committee, are now considering reforming the wayCARB officials are appointed and rules about term limits. The blatantdisrespect the governor’s administration is displaying towards those chargedwith implementing a bill he himself endorsed certainly deserves no less of aresponse. The California Progress Report provides some more reportage and in depth insight intothe hearing.

In any case, Britain has taken note of California'spioneering role in fighting climate change in the US, with the BBC praising thescope of AB 32 and its domino effect across the country. Interestingly enough,however, Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, is quoted as being the speaker ofCalifornia's state "parliament." Would that we had one.