Posted on 07/05/2002 6:26:17 AM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
SACRAMENTO -- On the morning after the California Assembly passed a landmark global warming bill that has become a lightning rod for national debate, Speaker Herb Wesson received a call from former President Clinton, praising him for shepherding through the Legislature a bill that would make California the first state to regulate emissions of greenhouse gases.
Clinton's personal interest in the bill is indicative of what the measure authored by Assemblywoman Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, has become to the environmental movement nationwide -- the vessel of their hope for action to combat global warming in the wake of the Bush administration's decision not to join in an international treaty that would have committed the United States to action.
The auto industry waged a multimillion-dollar campaign to stop Pavley's bill and is now focusing its efforts on urging a veto from Gov. Gray Davis. If that fails, there is talk of waging a referendum campaign to overturn the Legislature's action by popular vote.
The measure would require the Air Resources Board to prepare by 2005 a list of regulations to achieve "the maximum feasible cost-effective reductions" in the emission of carbon dioxide from cars and small trucks.
Proponents of Pavley's bill, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, staged their own lobbying campaign, including enlisting actor Paul Newman to personally call fence-sitting legislators to seek their support.
Interest ran high also in Congress, where Sens. John McCain, R-Ariz., and John Kerry, D-Mass, jointly wrote to state leaders saying, "California has an opportunity to do what we in Washington failed to achieve -- to base your policy on sound science rather than wildly distorted rhetoric."
On Wednesday, Pavley was still reeling with excitement from the reaction to passage of her bill -- and predicting that Davis would look favorably upon it.
Although the governor has not committed, his public comments indicate he is nearly certain to sign the measure after reviewing amendments that were added this week.
In an interview with The Star on Tuesday, Davis said, "I'm certainly leaning toward it ... but I don't want to tell the world I'm signing it until I read the bill."
The bill passed the Assembly on Monday 41-30 with only Democrats voting in support. The action came a day after the Senate had taken an entirely different bill by Pavley, gutted the language and substituted the language of her original bill on global warming.
The action was a tactical move to make some changes to the version the Senate had previously approved. Those changes won over a couple of moderate Democrats, and Wesson put it up for a vote immediately.
Any delay, supporters said, would have led to what supporters said would have been a "carpet-bombing" lobbying effort on the part of the auto industry.
The speed of the action, said Assemblyman Keith Richman, R-Northridge, "was an embarrassment to the Legislature."
"If such far-reaching public policy couldn't get the votes on Wednesday that it got on Monday, maybe we shouldn't have voted on it," Richman said.
Rumors have been circulating around the Capitol of a potential referendum drive should Davis sign the bill, but California Chamber of Commerce lobbyist Charles Bacchi said no formal proposal has been discussed. He characterized the talk of a referendum as something that has "bubbled up" from individuals, perhaps with urging from conservative radio talk-show hosts.
A referendum would be a multimillion-dollar undertaking. Sponsors would have to collect 420,000 signatures within 90 days after Davis signed the bill. The governor will have 10 days to act upon the measure once it reaches his office, but so far the bill has been held at the Assembly desk. It can be held there indefinitely -- or at least until the end of the legislative session in August -- before being forwarded to Davis.
| To find all articles tagged or indexed using Global Warming Hoax , click below: | ||||
| click here >>> | Global Warming Hoax | <<< click here | ||
| (To view all FR Bump Lists, click here) | ||||
calgov2002:
 calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register |
Really? Show absolute proof man is causing global warming. I'd like to see it.
Sounds more like Communist propaganda to me. Hail Hitler.
The Air Resources Board is a bunch of unelected hacks, all liberal all appointed, all untouchable by the electorate. What cowards thses politicians are. If laws are going to be enacted I want to elect the lawmakers.
Where do we sign the inititive?
"Sheparding". So that's what the duplicitous, lying bastards called what happened last week. Figures the ex-liar-in-chief would approve of their tactics. When are the sheeple going to wise up the these fascists?
Wonder how far we are from a time whan the government tells us what kind of house we will be permitted to live in?
"We know, Ernest_at_the_Beach, that you can afford, and would prefer to live in, a nice 2,000 sqft 3-2 detached house along the beachfront walking trail in Newport Beach, BUT, your living there could make life uncoooomfortable for the seabirds, and the materials neeeded to construct it could better be used to build apartments for the homeless in San Francisco, and besides, the energy needed to heat such a large house would contribute to global warming, but not to worry, the government WILL permit you to move into a 250 sqft apartment in East Los Angeles. Of course, because you can afford it, you will be charged the same price as the Newport Beach flat. We thank you for your volunteering to help spread the wealth, for your effort to reduce energy consumption, and for serving as a role model to the underpriveleged in East LA. Have a nice day."
"When first they came for the SUV's, I did not do anything, for I did not own an SUV..."
DOH!
ya got yur shadow govt and then ya got yur shady govt,
Davis likely sees this as insuring his next job in the Democratic hierarchy!
The national Demo party needed this victory for their reasons, not for any reason regarding air quality in California!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.