SCHWARZENEGGER RECANTS "BUDGET OR VETOES" PLEDGE IN FAVOR OF HIGH-SPEED RAIL BILL
In a letter to legislative leaders on Monday, Governor Schwarzenegger announced that he would make several exceptions to his pledge to veto all legislation until the approval of a state budget. The Governor has implemented this switch in position by signing AB 3034 (Galgiani), which will improve the high-speed rail bond issue on the November ballot. AB 3034 will replace Proposition 1, crafted several years ago. The previous version lacks provisions that allow for continued oversight as a High Speed Rail system is developed, so this change is definitely positive. AB 3034 also has provisions that will help limit the possible growth inducing impacts that the High Speed Rail system might cause.
SOME PROGRESS, SOME STUMBLING: MIXED RESULTS FROM LEGISLATURE ON BILLS TO REGULATE TOXICS
This week the Legislature approved two critical measures that advance efforts to reduce toxic chemicals in consumer products. AB 1879 (Feuer) authorizes the State to initiate a public process to establish a list of chemicals of concern and prioritize those chemicals on their potential for exposure and impacts on sensitive populations such as children and infants. SB 509 (Simitian)permits the State to create an online clearinghouse of information on the hazards associated with various chemicals, giving health advocates, consumers, and others easier access to this information.
Two other important toxic chemical bills remain stuck on the Assembly Floor after failing to receive enough votes to head to the Governor's desk. SB 1713 (Migden) enacts the Toxin-Free Toddlers and Babies Act, prohibiting bisphenol-A from any bottle, cup, or other container that may be used by children three years of age or younger. SB 1313 (Corbett) bans perfluorinated compounds from food containers.
Some Assembly Members are not convinced that bisphenol-A and perfluorinated compounds are harmful to our environment and health despite the prevalence of these chemicals in our food, water, and bodies - and evidence that the chemicals can cause devastating long term developmental, reproductive, behavioral, and neurological effects.
Both bills will have a chance to be reconsidered by the Assembly in the final hours of the session. Please urge your Assembly Member to protect us from dangerous chemicals by voting in support of SB 1313 and SB 1713.
BAD BONDS AND GOOD LEGISLATION: SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON WATER GETS AN EARFUL
On Tuesday, the Assembly Special Committee on Water passed two strong water bills to the Assembly Floor and also heard testimony from many parties who have serious concerns about proposals to place a nearly $10 billion water bond on the November ballot.
The committee's first order of business was to pass SBX2 1 (Perata), which appropriates existing bond funds for much needed ecosystem restoration, water quality, and water supply reliability projects, and ABX2 7 (Wolk), which ensures water planning and management will incorporate existing information on the impacts of climate change to water resources. SBX2 1 subsequently passed off of the Assembly Floor on Thursday and ABX2 7 is scheduled to be heard on the Assembly Floor on Friday. Both of these bills have garnered broad support and are priority bills for the environmental community.
The committee then turned its attention to an informational hearing on the Assembly water bond proposal, ABX2 8, and the bond proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger and U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein. Both these proposals would provide over $9 billion in bond funds. Both include $3 billion for highly controversial water storage projects including new dams. The informational hearing consisted of several panels of stakeholders giving their input on the water proposals.
PCL's Jonas Minton participated in one of the panel discussions. His testimony cautioned that all versions of the bond have significant unresolved issues, including conflicts over how funding for storage projects would be distributed, and how to construct and fund an effective Delta restoration plan. "Rushing a bond through this session without addressing these significant problems may create more problems than it will solve," noted Minton after the hearing.
In addition to the stakeholder panels, the committee heard from the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO). The LAO reported that the estimated debt service on ABX2 8 would reach $638 million per year. In public comment, the Service Employees International Union, the California Teachers Association, the California Faculty Association, and the California Tax Reform Association all expressed concern that such a large debt service would further stress the state's ability to provide adequate resources for education and health care.
For more information, you can watch the hearing webcast. Highlights include Assembly Member Feuer's comments on sustainable funding (02:30:56) as well as testimony by PCL's Jonas Minton (03:32:09) and Community Water Center's Susana de Anda (03:56:18).
Where do we go from here?
PCL has been working hard to develop a broad coalition in favor of a truly positive water policy. To date, fifty environmental, environmental justice, and community-based organizations have joined together to support ten comprehensive water policy principles outlined in a letter opposing the Governor and Senator Feinstein's water bond proposal. Our coalition will continue to work with the Legislature to reshape California water policy to address California's water needs with sustainable and equitable solutions.
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