LEGISLATIVE SESSION ENDS WITH A THUD - NEW MEMBERS SWORN IN UNDER DARK CLOUD OF STATE BUDGET MESS
The 2007-2008 legislative session ended last week in an unsuccessful attempt to address the growing state budget crisis. Governor Schwarzenegger had called the Legislature into a special session to fix the state's finances after the gimmicks, accounting tricks, and wishful thinking of the widely-criticized 2008-09 budget began to unravel. While the Governor and Democratic lawmakers proposed to close the gap by generating new revenue and making further cuts, the Republican members refused to support the new revenues and defeated the patch-up plan just before Thanksgiving.
On Monday, the new legislative members were sworn in and immediately took up the work of closing the looming budget gap. At the same time, the Governor declared a fiscal emergency and called another special session to encourage the new Legislature to quickly develop a plan to deal with the growing deficit. Declaring an emergency starts the clock for the Legislature to act within 90 days. The special session also allows newly enacted policies to take effect more rapidly.
The predicted budget shortfall by mid-2010 could be as high as $28 billion if the Legislature does not act.
The new members will barely know their way around the halls before they'll be expected to solve one of the toughest financial challenges to face the state. We wish them luck and urge them to protect vital public services, including environmental and public health programs as they balance the books.
WIN FOR THE AMERICAN RIVER: AUBURN DAM WATER RIGHTS REVOKED
On Tuesday the State Water Resources Control Board revoked the water rights for the proposed Auburn Dam, putting an end to a battle for the American River Canyon that lasted three decades. The Board determined that after 37 years of inaction, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation could not demonstrate the ability to put the water rights to use. The Board further noted that the implementation of environmentally preferable alternatives for flood control and water supply rendered the massive dam redundant.
Culminating decades of advocacy to save the American River, Ron Stork from Friends of the River, Gary Estes from Protect the American River Canyons, Michael Jackson and Bill Jennings from the California Sports Fishing Protection Alliance and Jonas Minton from the Planning and Conservation League testified in support of the historic action. After hearing the final decision Jonas Minton stated, "It took decades, but today good science and sound, cost-effective alternatives prevailed to preserve the American River Canyon for generations to come. This is a win for all Californians. We now must apply the same rational thinking to the next round of proposed expensive, environmentally damaging dams."
PCL will be applying lessons learned on persistence, determination and success from the Auburn Dam debate to the on-going push to fund ill-conceived, environmentally damaging dams. We'll continue to encourage state decision makers to carefully examine how more cost-effective solutions such as conservation, water recycling, groundwater cleanup, and floodplain management can substitute for new taxpayer-subsidized dams. Hopefully, this time we won't need thirty years of debate to make the right decision.
STEINBERG TAKES THE REIGNS, SIGNALS FOCUS ON GREEN ECONOMY
Senator Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento officially took over as leader of the State Senate on Monday in a speech full of environmental and economic messages.
The new "President pro Tem" immediately declared that all 40 senators would be named to the budget committee to ensure a more open, deliberative process. He also laid out short term priorities including clean technology and higher renewable energy standards, children's health care reform, and passage of a water bond. (That last priority gives us some pause. With a small handful of legislators pushing to include costly and inefficient dams as part of the water proposal, we'll naturally remain vigilant to make sure that any water bond invests in projects that solve the state's water crisis and don't provide a boon to boondoggles.)
Steinberg sought to dispel the myth that protecting the environment and stimulating the economy were mutually exclusive. He pointed out that we must embrace both to ensure we can move our economy forward in a sustainable and healthy way. The Senator's comments were encouraging because they recognized that California must take a leadership role in transforming our economy from one which relies on resources extraction and pollution to one which promotes sustainability and stewardship.
Senate Pro Tem Steinberg also dismissed claims that rolling back our environmental laws would improve our economy. In particular he rejected efforts to exempt billions of dollars in infrastructure projects from review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Such exemptions, while short-sighted and ill-conceived from an environmental perspective, could also have significant economic consequences. For example, CEQA review allows agencies to ensure a project is designed to minimize costly health impacts, saving the state millions down the road and helps to ensure that we fund the best, most efficient projects.
Senator Steinberg has been a champion of greening our economy and expanding our green-collar workforce, which is exactly the resume we need in the leader of our State Senate right now. With the Senator's help, California can seize the opportunity presented by the downturn in the economy, transforming our financial path and our quality of life. As we consider investing taxpayer dollars to stimulate the economy, we hope Steinberg will help us make every dollar truly green -moving us toward a better, healthier life, upon a foundation of sustainable jobs that sustain the planet.
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION FUNDING BACK IN THE CROSS HAIRS
In his November budget-balancing proposal, Governor Schwarzenegger once again took aim at public transportation, this time not just calling for drastic cuts in funding but also suggesting the Legislature permanently eliminate the State Transit Assistance (STA) program all together.
That's a crazy idea for all sorts of reasons. Public transportation is a key component of improving our economy by providing permanent, green jobs. The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) has demonstrated that every one dollar invested in public transportation projects and services generates approximately six dollars in local economic activity because of retail and housing development near transit hubs. Yet state funding for public transportation has already taken a $1.7 billion hit over the past two years while demand continues to go up. That's not to mention the growing appreciation of the role that transit must play in the fight against global warming.
The Governor's proposal is asking our transit systems to operate in the 21st Century on a 1960's budget. It won't work. To help join the fight, contact PCL's legislative director Tina Andolina.
SO THIS ENVIRONMENTALIST WALKS INTO A BAR - LEARN HOW TO WIN WITH STORY TELLING AND VOLUNTEER ACTION AT PCL'S ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM
Tired of the same old message? Looking for new energized volunteers? PCL's 2009 Symposium offers two "How To…" workshops that can help!
How to Tell Your Story Effectively
If you're looking for a hands-on workshop to help you clarify your organization's target audience, the actions you'd like them to take, and the media tools best suited for your message, this workshop is for you! Will Murray, of Will Murray Company, will help you develop a message with effective structure, imagery, and linguistic techniques to best project your organization's vision as well as your volunteer, donor, and activism needs.
How to Involve and Motivate People to Join and Stay Involved with Your Campaign
While the majority of Californians identify themselves as environmentalists, it's hard to motivate multi-tasking, over-stretched individuals to invest in your organization's mission and our natural world. In this workshop, Elizabeth Lambe will share proven strategies that assist with recruitment and retention of volunteers. She'll show you ways to make conservation tasks like attending hearings, tabling, and precinct walking enjoyable - even fun.
Early Bird Registration ends December 31st - registration prices will go up on January 1st!Register early for the PCL-PCLF Symposium and Banquet to save. The event is on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in downtown Sacramento. For more information, contact Melanie Schlotterbeck at (714) 779-7561 or MSchlotterbeck@pcl.org.
REMINDER: CEQA WORKSHOP IN STOCKTON THIS SATURDAY
Don't miss the PCL Foundation's next workshop on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) on Saturday December 6th in the city of Stockton. If you'd like to attend, please contact Justin Saydell at (916) 313-4506
1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789
1107 9th Street, Suite 360, Sacramento, CA 95814 • Phone (916) 444-8726 • Fax (916) 448-1789 •
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