Posted on 08/11/2004 7:29:54 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - More than two dozen environmental representatives went into their first face-to-face meeting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Wednesday preparing to express some disappointment in his administration, but came out reassured by his renewed pledge of commitment to their goals.
"There's a lot of high hopes," Kim Delfino of Defenders of Wildlife said after the hour-long meeting at the Capitol. "We've got the possibility of having some really good things come out of this administration, but only time will tell."
A Schwarzenegger spokeswoman said the governor is committed to creating jobs and improving the state's business climate without damaging the environment, as illustrated by the ocean and air pollution policies for which he drew praise at Wednesday's meeting.
"A strong economy and environmental protections are not mutually exclusive," spokeswoman Terri Carbaugh said. "You're seeing that convergence in this administration. We're finding middle ground."
Environmental groups had looked to Schwarzenegger "to be a different kind of Republican governor" based on his conservation-oriented campaign pledges, early political appointments, and willingness to oppose Republicans in Washington, said Bill Allayaud, the Sierra Club's state legislative director.
But they've been recently upset that Schwarzenegger negotiated away a series of fees on polluters and developers as part of his budget after business groups and Republican lawmakers objected. He also chopped nearly $50 million in voter-approved bond money down to $14 million to fund new protection programs for river parkways and open land in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.
"We think the environment got the short end of the stick," Allayaud said.
Schwarzenegger has withheld support so far for his own Environmental Protection Agency's sweeping $1 billion "Million Solar Homes Initiative" that would encourage half of all new California homes be solar-powered within 10 years. Environmental and legislative proponents fear the governor will bow to business opponents of the plan.
They're concerned about his government reorganization committee, which proposes to realign resources and environmental agencies and eliminate air and water boards the environmental groups say provide public representation and protection.
They've criticized senior cabinet officials for their 11-day trip with oil industry officials to view liquid natural gas sites overseas, as the industry lobbies to build facilities on and offshore in Southern California.
And they object to the state's secretive $95 million deal to protect Hearst Ranch from development, while limiting public access to much of the coastal property. That plan is pending Thursday before the state Wildlife Conservation Board, and Schwarzenegger did not respond to Allayaud's request that the governor slow state approval.
But Schwarzenegger repeated his commitment to making California a world leader in renewable energy, such as is proposed in the solar plan promoted by his EPA. He blamed the budget crisis for stalling his environmental agenda early in his administration, participants said.
Schwarzenegger used the event to ask environmentalists to oppose tribal gambling expansion initiatives on the November ballot, measures that would undermine new environmental compromises the governor has negotiated with five tribes.
Though the environmental representatives had been trying to meet with Schwarzenegger unsuccessfully since January, and complained they felt excluded from negotiations over the budget and government reorganization plan, participants said they came away reassured.
"He genuinely seemed interested in meeting with us and getting our input on a regular basis," said Allayaud.
"I think it bodes well," Delfino said.
But they've been recently upset that Schwarzenegger negotiated away a series of fees on polluters and developers as part of his budget after business groups and Republican lawmakers objected. He also chopped nearly $50 million in voter-approved bond money down to $14 million to fund new protection programs for river parkways and open land in the Sierra Nevada and Cascade mountain ranges.
There is absolutely no excuse for government spending $14 million of my tax dollars to buy up land. As far as I am concerned that's just theft of my money.
As pissed as I am, and I really am, $14 is a damn site better than $50 million.
That Sierra Club maggot needs defunding yesterday!
Well, while I'm not completely happy about this, $14 million is still a pretty big chunk change, still, a LOT better then $50 million.
Oh yeah, and anything that makes the ecofrauds unhappy, I'm happy.
This reduction in funding does not stop the enviromental leviathan funded by the likes of no less than MaMa T from continuing to ram ill-conceived policies down the throats of those who can least afford to sucker up for them.
Besides, the earth will recycle itself soon enough and all the progressives and the rest of us along with them when it has had enough of us.
Im not saying that we shouldn't try and be good stewards of our planet but we also need to be aware of the motives of many of these groups as they try and steal public lands right out from underneath our feet for their own nefarious purposes and agendas.
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