Arnold's budget dealing: a public health issue?

 

Earlier this year, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger hunkered down with legislators in budget negotiations, the result was a delay of regulations to crack down on cancer-causing diesel pollution from construction and farm equipment. It was a provision intensely sought by business interests, but one with little effect on budgetary or fiscal matters.

Now, once again, environmentalists are sounding the alarm that eco-issues are on the table in the budgetary arm wrestling that has paralyzed Sacramento in recent weeks.

Eight major advocacy groups wrote Schwarzenegger and legislative leaders on July 16 asking that they resist efforts to insert into the budget a provision that could enable the building of new power plants in the Los Angeles Basin.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District, a regional agency, is pushing the provision, incorporated in a stalled Senate bill, SB 696. The air district has been prevented by a recent court ruling from giving out emissions credits for power plants until it fully analyzes the environmental impact. Republican and some Democratic legislators, along with the Chamber of Commerce and other business groups, want any new budget deal to overturn the court decision.

South Coast officials said they view new power plants as necessary to serve a growing population and prevent blackouts. But as a result of lawsuits brought by the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups, the agency has delayed the permits for power plants, as well as for hundreds of other businesses, until the credits issue is resolved.

According to the July 16 letter from the Sierra Club, the American Lung Assn. and other groups, overturning the court decision in the budget deal would "add 10 tons per day of dirty particulate pollution to the Los Angeles Air Basin. ... Our organizations have argued strenuously against 11th-hour budget proposals to weaken environmental and public health laws that have nothing to do with the state budget."

Two other issues are also reportedly on the table. Bill Magavern, director of the California branch of the Sierra Club, said Schwarzenegger wants to insert a provision in the budget to overturn the State Lands Commission's denial of a plan to expand offshore oil drilling off Santa Barbara.

And, Magavern said, the governor is also seeking to use the budget deal as a vehicle for his earlier proposal to abolish a key scientific review agency, the Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, which evaluates the impacts of chemical contaminants.

Aaron McLear, the governor's press secretary, said: "We don't comment on budget negotiations. Once there is a final agreement, we will share that with the press."

-- Margot Roosevelt

Photo: Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at a July 2 news conference on the budget. Credit: Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Jackie Wrider]

When will California learn, We are not some script. Arnold is only acting like a Governor. What about his wasteful special elections, and let's not forget those awful TV commercials. oh no worries, His children can afford to go to school, and healthcare for his family no problem. We should do to him what he did to Davis. California always remember Hollywood is not the State Capitol, Acting is FAKE (not real) This man does not know what real is. The sequel, Sickness, Homelessness, Crime, Illiteracy and loss of hope, Thanks for the memories, Directed by the Terminator

[ECO FRIENDLY PROMOS]

No wonder California's budget is so messed up with the man who's in charge. He spent all the money on steroids and not on green iniatives! Boo!

[BREATHE LA]

BREATHE LA supports increased use of clean energy and technologies, particularly renewable energy. BREATHE LA and our BREATHE California affiliates joined fellow environmental organizations on record to OPPOSE CEQA exemptions to Pollution Credits Permits and regional state agencies (AQMD) push to distribute emissions credits without Environmental Impact Reports.

[Joe]

I elected you to start terminating the fat that has consumed us. Keep up the good work!

[Larry]

End Southern California's political dominance over California and split the state into two - we have plenty of water up here, wanna buy some???

[david nieves]

there is no money left, teachers are crying about losing jobs, if we didnt have all of these illegal and anchor babies/children in our schools we wouldnt need that many teachers. All we hear is green green green, how many companies have left the state because of that green issue not to mention taxing them to death, then you have the great state legislature, that doesnt want to cut any programs, because it will cost them votes in the next election, but they want to punish the workers and buisnesses with more taxes and regulations,then you have our republican/democrat/green party arnold kennedy swarzeneggar who tries to please everyone ,but instead pissed everybody off, i dont what he stands for ,but he doesnt take a salary ill give some credit. californians we need to take our state back, vote all the morons out of office,we need real illegal alien reform like no more free services and jobs and start bringing jobs back to california thats a start, and as far as the green issue goes lets meet halfway, not green all the way at any cost its killing us right now.

[Steve]

Steal from the poor, and give to the rich. It's Arnold's mantra. He's the new Hood Robin.

[Ron J]

Arnold is California's very own personal GWB. Like Bush everything he touches turns to crap and he's gone back on every promise he's ever made. We impeached Davis for far less and I'm really wondering why the voters aren't even more pissed at Arnold. This economic crisis that has laid waste to the world's economy started right here for the most part. All the major mortgage rip-off artist like Countrywide, Ameriquest, and others based in OC too numerous to mention operated under his watch, consumers needed protection but for Arnold business is king.. And don't even mention the state budget gap which has gotten wider each year he's been in office. Now he's dismantling the state college system and primary school education is about to take a huge hit. We were once the pride of the nation in terms of economic and technical innovation and the country followed our lead. Now thanks to this clown our credit rating is in the toilet and we are the joke of the world. What's it gonna take to get ride of this guy?

[Carolyn Jones]

Arnold needs to be removed from office; he is incapable of balancing the budget; he will only cut where it hurts those in need; he will not consider the needs of the severly disabled, children nor ederly.

They are the ones who will have to pay

[puzzled]

Has anyone wondered how much energy it took to smelt all the steel to make a windmill? How much energy did it take to haul it out to Palm Springs? How much energy did it take to construct the windmill at the site? Is this more energy than the windmill will supply in its lifetime? Apply the same reasoning to all the "green" stuff you hear about.

[PAUL ESPINOZA]

Gov. Arnold reminds me of the Shaw of Iran just before the fall of Iran.

[capt. crunch]

Things are looking pretty bad down in California. But here is a question a lot of people have been asking in my area...

California owes British Columbia almost $5 BILLION for the excess power used a few years ago because California cannot get their act together. So when are we going to see this paid plus the interest owing?

[Jay]

When is Arnie going to prison?

[Bill McGowan]

The current so called environmental movement is a yet another typical example of
government employee's creating work and prolonging employment for themselves. Health department officials, planning departments, the Environmental Protection Agency
and all types of similar agencies are scrambling across the nation to create work, by scheduling months and months of endless public hearings in support of their own
transparent agenda. It's all about jobs at a time when jobs are surely needed.

[oscar perez domingo]

hola arnold-
he visto todas tus peliculas soy español de la ciudad de barcelona
sin duda el mejor papel de tu vida y la pelicula mejor es la que estas haciendo actualmente
GOBERNADOR DE CALIFORNIA
ERES EL MEJOR

[Elizabeth]

Perhaps the best we can hope for is the judicial system. If there is no public input or hearings on MAJOR changes in the California government, then it will be left in the hands of hte court system. The current leadership is shameful and the legacy of the current governor is going to be a sad commentary on the greater public good...the only good served by backroom deals is that of his friends and cronies, not the people of the state. WHY ARE WE THE ONLY STATE THAT DOES NOT TAX OIL EXTRACTION?

[Dig Deep]

If not for California air around the world would be worst.
California has been in the forefront of air quality. They deserve applause.
California eight larges economies in the world.
We will survive and work it out.

[J Moore]

GREEN CALIFONIA

Face the facts Califonia will never become green because it has been overrun with too many people. If you like to stand in line look at nothing but trash and garbage pay high prices and outrageous taxes then California is for you.

Califonia is now a failed state that has been overrun with illgal alians and welfare recipents. Most of the people in the state are without jobs and fighting just too survive. How green can you get to pay the rent and keep food on the table.

What we need is a totally NEW STATE GOVERNMENT.

[Josh Ooi]

The political state of our state as well as our country is really sad. We have a dysfunctional government all ready to use essential service as a bargaining chips. Frankly it is so easy to solve the state budget. Just reduce all the perks and salaries of State and Federal employees by 30%. They would still live well above the normal people income and would still have more benefits that ordinary workers have. SO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM... GREED, SELFISHNESS, and POWER. So what you have a THREE BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT.. they could still take you to the cleaners.

[sheila]

Where are our solar panels?

Where is the funding for AB 811 loans, which are guaranteed pay-back and zero cost to the state?'

Where are our feed in tariffs so that WE can be paid to produce more clean energy than we use, right where that energy is needed?

There is a simple, cheap, fast, and eco-friendly solution to ALL the problems listed - rooftop solar and conservation - but it might very slightly disempower Big Energy, so we are all held hostage while our legislators and regulators work hard to re-monopolize power production, poison our air, and destroy our open spaces.

Big Solar and Big Wind are just more of the same. DEcentralized, reliable, affordable clean energy owned by us is the answer. The proven policies are right in front of everyone and have been for years - we just need to demand them.

Fund AB 811 so we can get low-interest loans repayable through our property taxes, and implement feed in tariffs so we can be paid for producing clean power that doesn't slaughter wilderness, within the built environment. If we don't demand it and publicize that we are not getting what we need, they will continue getting away with their Big Energy giveaways and will destroy our chance to be somewhat energy independent...

[PAUL TAYLOR EXAMINER]

California's biggest enemy of fiscal responsibility is California’s political culture. Thanks to historical gerrymandering, virtually all state legislative districts are safely Democrat or Republican – at about a 2:1 ratio, respectively. Republican candidates promise never to raise taxes; Democrats pledge allegiance to the environmental elites and the massive public employee unions. Thus, the dominance of Democrat progressives carries all sorts of risks. Now at over 11%, California has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country; thanks to high personal taxes, militant unions and extravagant environmental regulations.

Can California afford any more “green” during a recession? A freeze on any new environmental enforcements would be a good way to assist a California economic recovery. Today, California needs a growing economy, not a green economy.

[David Pettit]

It is shameful to have these issues resolved in backroom budget deals where public health is used as a bargaining chip.

[LogicInWindSunGeo]

Cut The BS Already
Green Energy Now!!

[Jennifer Moser]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Special interest is hard work for Arnold.