Last Friday morning, after a marathon 20-hour session, environmental groups earned a major victory when the Assembly rejected Governor Schwarzenegger's proposal to allow new offshore oil drilling along the Santa Barbara coast as part of the state budget package.

The Senate had narrowly approved the proposed oil-drilling lease by a 21-18 vote before sending the budget package to the Assembly. After a long and vigorous debate, the Assembly overwhelmingly rejected the drilling proposal by a vote of 43-28. The Assembly Democrats were virtually united in opposition, with only Charles Calderon breaking ranks. Republican Assemblymember Audra Strickland also voted no. Assemblymember Juan Arambula, who recently changed his affiliation from Democrat to independent, voted for the bill.

Over 60 environmental groups opposed the Governor's drilling proposal and mobilized Californians to defeat it. Through a coordinated effort, the environmental community showed that the bill was a sweetheart deal for one oil company rather than a real solution to the state's fiscal woes.

Stopping this measure sends a strong message to Washington at a time when the federal government is exploring whether to pursue new off-shore drilling nationally. Because of Friday's vote, California has maintained its 40 year tradition of standing firm to protect our coasts from oil drilling. Three cheers for everyone who helped make history!

CLOSING OPEN SPACE AND TRASHING CONSERVATION: ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS SLASHED IN STATE BUDGET

Aside from the defeat of new offshore oil drilling, the environment suffered considerably in the state budget compromise. Here are a few of the worst examples:

STATE PARKS: After the Legislature chopped funding for California's state parks, the Governor used his veto power to cut deeper for a total of $14.2 million in reduced funding. These cuts will mean that over 100 of California's 280 state parks will close. The Governor had originally proposed completely eliminating state funding for the parks. These closures will constrain low-cost recreational opportunities for lower and middle-class families and decimate nearby businesses that rely on the parks for customers. 

WASTE REDUCTION: The Legislature succumbed to the Governor's demand to eliminate the California Integrated Waste Management Board, which is charged with regulating and inspecting landfills and running a number of recycling programs. The duties of the board will now be housed in a new department within the Natural Resources Agency called the Department of Resources, Recycling, and Recovery. The board had been under the jurisdiction of the California Environmental Projection Agency. Many contend that the cost of transferring its duties to the Resources Agency, including moving staff and materials, will lose the state any money that might have been saved by eliminating the board.

CONSERVATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH: The Governor line-item vetoed several other environmental programs to beef up the state's rainy day fund, including elimination of all state funding for the Williamson Act, which helps conserve farmland; all state support for local conservation corps; and deep cuts to the Office of Environmental Health Hazards Assessments.