Posted on 05/19/2023 3:40:25 AM PDT by Libloather
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California lawmakers blocked two big environmental bills Thursday: One that would have ramped up the state's emissions targets, and another that would have made oil companies liable for the health problems of people who live close to oil wells.
They are among the hundreds of bills that did not survive the Legislature’s suspense file, a mysterious process where lawmakers decide — with no explanation — which bills will get a chance to become law later this year and which ones should not move forward.
Last year, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law that bans drilling new oil wells within 3,200 feet (975 meters) of sensitive areas like homes and schools. But the law hasn’t taken effect because the oil industry qualified a referendum on the 2024 ballot asking voters to overturn it.
That referendum angered environmental and health advocates. They decided if the oil industry wanted to block that law, then they would try to pass another law to let people who got sick from living too close to wells to sue the oil companies responsible for them. The bill, authored by Sen. Lena Gonzalez, would have required oil companies to pay up to $1 million to people who have cancer or other health problems associated with the well.
“Today, we missed a key opportunity to advance legislation that would hold polluters accountable and prevent further harm to families who are just trying to stay healthy and have a better quality of life,” Gonzalez said in a statement.
The Senate Appropriations Committee stopped the bill from getting a vote by the full Senate, meaning it is not likely to become law this year. Jamie Court, president of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog, blamed committee chair Sen. Anthony Portantino, a Democrat from Burbank who is also running...
(Excerpt) Read more at wsls.com ...
It’s all for show. RATS make money through investments and get campaign donations from the oil companies.
How is this a gift? It would have been a gift if they allowed it to go through. They will just try again but for now it is dead.
California lawmakers block bill allowing people to sue oil companies over health problems
Environmental and health "advocates" anger me. Fascists.
They can sue now. The chances of winning would still be remote. This law merely puts a cap on damages at $1M.
Question to the jurors, “How did this particular well drilling operation cause the cancer?”
EC
Everything about the Cally RATS is what they hear on the 6:00 news think of a flag flapping in the wind.
It’s why the state is so screwed up thinking is not an option there.
” Jamie Court, president of the advocacy group Consumer Watchdog”
this POS thinks he represents consumers in the state, he does not. just another grifter looking for state money
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