Press Release
March 17, 2011
Once again, opponents of California’s environmental laws are taking advantage of the state’s dire fiscal condition to propose concessions to weaken the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and other environmental protections during the budget process. (Read a CLCV analysis of a bill introduced by Senator Cannella to undermine CEQA here.) The bill (along with other demands) is essentially a ransom note. Senator Cannella and four other state Senators insist on gutting CEQA in exchange for their votes on the state budget to allow tax extensions to be put before voters in a proposed special June election.
Legislators should have the integrity to debate the merits of environmental protections through the legislative process, not in secret behind closed doors. We urge Governor Jerry Brown and legislative leaders to insist that any proposals that seek to change our cornerstone environmental laws be assigned to the appropriate policy or budget subcommittees for full and open discussion and action.
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
