>>>>Log Cabin endorsed and campaigned for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2003 recall election and continues to support his efforts to bring people together to build an even brighter future for the great state of California.<<<<
Posted on 08/17/2006 10:00:19 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO, California (Reuters) - California is forging ahead with the most aggressive U.S. program to reduce global warming -- a plan that pits Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger against fellow Republican George W. Bush.
Both the governor and his state's Democratic-led legislature want to make California -- the world's eighth largest economy -- a model to follow with caps in greenhouse gas emissions that the U.S. president rejects.
State politicians still are hammering out differences over the proposed Global Warming Solutions Act. If passed, it is likely to play a role in November's vote for governor and in national politics for years to come.
Schwarzenegger -- branded "very green for a Republican" by the conservation group Sierra Club -- became an overnight hero for environmentalists a year ago by setting a goal to cut California's emissions to 1990 levels by 2020.
More recently, he accused fellow Republicans in Washington of lacking leadership on the environment as he signed a global warming accord with British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
"We have a pretty brave governor who feels we should take the lead," said Linda Adams, a Democrat Schwarzenegger chose to run California's Environmental Protection Agency.
The Democrats say their bill gives the governor's 2020 target "teeth" with an enforceable cap on emissions and mandatory reporting for top polluters like energy companies.
If Schwarzenegger vetoes the bill because he wants a more business-friendly version, then the Democrats can use it against him in his reelection bid.
"Given that he has staked a large part of his reelection plea on his environmental record, I don't think he is in a position to veto this bill," said Bill Magavern of the Sierra Club in Sacramento.
Schwarzenegger practiced his balancing act while campaigning on Wednesday by saying the bill will be a "compromised version."
"Some environmentalists will say 'this is not perfect' and there will be other people in the business community who will say 'this is not perfect'."
'CHANCES VERY HIGH'
California is an environment-savvy state where being green wins votes. But it is also the world's 12th largest emitter of heat-trapping gases like carbon dioxide. It faces environmental and health disasters with warmer temperatures.
Meanwhile, the population is projected to grow from 35 million today to 55 million in 2050.
The California Chamber of Commerce and business groups say the global warming bill is bad for the economy because it will drive up energy prices and send companies running to less regulated places -- similar arguments used by Bush to pull out of the 160-nation Kyoto Protocol to reduce global warming.
EPA secretary Adams is pushing for a more market-based bill to give business tools to meet goals with "no intent to let any sector or company off the hook."
She believes "chances are very high" Democrats will pass a bill the governor can sign by the end of session on August 31.
Bill co-sponsor and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, who is working for the election of Schwarzenegger's opponent Phil Angelides, denied playing politics with the environment by putting the incumbent on the spot before the election.
"We will send a bill he can sign and we want to champion it across the country," said Nunez, who predicted no Republican member of the California legislature would vote in favor. And that momentum, Nunez said, could help the Democrats in 2008.
"I think the 2008 presidential election will be won or lost on environmental degradation and new thinking on the environment," said Nunez.
(Additional reporting by Jenny O'Mara in Sacramento)
California will throw us into an ice age!
>>>>Log Cabin endorsed and campaigned for Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 2003 recall election and continues to support his efforts to bring people together to build an even brighter future for the great state of California.<<<<
Expect Kalifornia's economy to go straight into the toilet with all of these constraints to solve a PHONY PROBLEM.
Hooray, we are saved! Thanks Arnold!
It is a sad day when political BS counts as a breakthrough.
The left's long list of ideas: cap the economy.
With hundreds of miles Pacific Coast how about growing some saltwater algae with the CO2? From algae you can get oxygen and hydrogen gas, sugars for alcohol fermentation, oils for biodiesel, food, fish, and thousands of chemical products. The farmland is free and there's plenty of wind to push the tractors around. And the best part is just 200 miles out there are no California lawyers or bureaucrats.
"California on brink of global warming breakthrough (plans aggressive climate change program)"
Really?
Are they going to build nuclear power plants????
If the answer is "no", then they are doing nothing but gum-flapping.
More than gum-flapping. I predict no more SUVs, very tall high rise condos everywhere, very small windows in buildings, ending the sale of incandescent lights, enforced bicycling to work twice a week, non-flush toilets, $4/gallon fuel "GW" taxes and a whole lot more. And all this crap will be nibbling at the edges of a phony problem. The construction of ONE coal-fired plant in China would offset all this phony baloney feel-goodism. And China is starting up one coal fired plat every week in 2006.
This is just craziness!!!!
Nunez now sees himself as the middle of political debate?
He is the one out of touch with anybody trying to run an ordinary business in this state!
It's just pure politics.
NORTH AMERICAN LAND MASS SOAKING UP CARBON DIOXIDE
As I said, Arnold is a moron.
I call it racketeering. The 21st century's robber barons are alive and well.
California has dropped to eighth? Who beat the state besides China?
Everyone knows that Global Warming will continue until the UFO's return. No sightings since kooks started focusing on GB.
HOORAY! Go for it Kalipornia! We need more jobs in this area and your ignorance will only step up the mass escape of industry from your dung heap of a state.
How they expect to pay all that welfare of those 55 million after ALL industry leaves is outside of me.
Arnold, you're an idiot.
LOL! Will the rules apply to Mexicans or just low life Americans?
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