The PCL Insider: News From The Capitol

If you're someone who waits till the last possible moment – wait no longer! There are still a few seats left for the annual PCL Environmental Legislative Symposium this Saturday at the Sacramento Convention Center. It's one of hundreds of "Step It Up" events being held nationally.

AND THE WINNER IS...ANNUAL STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL AWARDS THIS SATURDAY AT PCL SYMPOSIUM

After a day full of building your policy expertise, honing your environmental policy skill-set, and networking with the stars at the PCL Environmental Legislative Symposium, we hope you join us for an evening banquet to thank this year's statewide environmental award winners.

So who are we surprising with over-sized checks, bushels of flowers and screaming fans?

The winners are...

Legislators of the Year
California Senate President pro Tem Don Perata and California Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez

Capitol “insiders” know how difficult it is to lead either House. It’s more than twice that difficult to get them to work together! Last year, to the immense benefit of the people of California, and to the California environment, the leaders of both Houses did just that and the result was legislation that is of truly global significance.

Speaker Núñez co-authored AB 32, the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006. President pro Tem Perata authored SB 1368, which helps make AB 32 a truly effective tool by preventing electric utilities from “exporting” greenhouse gas emissions to other states.

PCL honors these skillful and committed legislators, not simply for their individual legislative achievements, but above all for their preeminent and joint accomplishment in making representative government work the way it’s supposed to work in California.

Carla Bard Award for Individual Service
Dorothy Green

Dorothy Green has been an inspiring leader in California water policy for over 30 years. She founded Heal the Bay in 1985, started the Los Angeles and San Gabriel Rivers Watershed Council, established the Public Officials for Water and Environmental Reform (POWER), and helped launch the California Water Impact Network. She is also a long time member of the PCL Board of Directors. Kudos to Dorothy Green!

David Gaines Award for Grassroots Organization
California Interfaith Power and Light

California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL) is galvanizing a religious response to global warming as the moral issue of our time. Since its founding in 2001, CIPL has mobilized religious support for landmark legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California, educated hundreds of thousands of congregants, and worked with every major religious denomination in the state. And CIPL member congregations are leading by example, reducing emissions in their own houses of worship through energy conservation and efficiency.

Environmental Justice Advocate of the Year
Jane Williams

Based on the philosophy of her mother, prominent environmentalist Norma “Stormy” Gail Williams, Jane Williams formed the California Communities Against Toxics (CCAT), a collective of more than 70 local groups working to curb pollution in their regions. By building the CCAT network on non‑traditional alliances, Williams has been able to unite communities through a collaborative and cooperative social infrastructure, avoiding the competition and in-fighting that dooms many environmental collectives. As a result, today CCAT is the oldest community-based environmental network in existence, having aligned groups as diverse as Native American tribes, environmentalists, business owners, school boards, and elected officials against pollution in their communities for more than 17 years.

Environmental Business of the Year
Bank of America

Bank of America, one of the nation’s major financial institutions, has become a leader in green business. Recently, the company set aside $20 billion to enable clients to achieve carbon emission neutrality through existing and emerging market mechanisms. In addition to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the Bank has created an “eco-friendly credit card.” For every dollar spent B of A will make a contribution to an environmental organization to invest in greenhouse gas reduction projects. Homebuyers will also receive incentives like a reduced interest rate for homes that are Energy Star efficient. Over $1.4 billion dollars has also been committed to obtain LEED certification in all new building constructions. To further its efforts, $50 million was donated to the B of A Foundation to support non-profit organizations focused on forest preservation, innovative energy conservation, development of green, affordable housing, and other programs.

And  make sure you don't miss our lunchtime keynote speaker, U.S. Congressman Jerry McNerney!

A former CEO and renewable energy engineer, McNerney beat seven-term Congressman Richard Pombo last November. He now serves on the newly formed House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming and will address the role that new energy technologies will play in creating the Clean Economy jobs of the future, as well as helping to clean our environment and improve our air and water quality. Get ready for video addresses by Senator Dianne Feinstein and Senator Barbara Boxer too!

PCL SUPPORTS THE TERM LIMITS AND LEGISLATIVE REFORM ACT

The Planning and Conservation League has officially endorsed the “Term Limits and Legislative Reform Act,” a proposed initiative measure currently being reviewed by the California State Attorney General.

In issuing the PCL endorsement, Board of Directors President John Van de Kamp and PCL Executive Director Gary Patton said:

Our long experience with the legislative process convinces PCL that the current term limits restrictions found in the State Constitution often detract from the effectiveness of the Legislature. We believe that the “Term Limits and Legislative Reform Act” initiative is a positive first step towards a better system of representative government in California.

       
   
Gary A. Patton, Executive Director   

John Van de Kamp, President

If qualified and enacted, the proposed initiative would allow a legislator to serve twelve years in the State Senate (three 4-year terms), or twelve years in the State Assembly (six 2-year terms), or any combination of service in the Senate and the Assembly not exceeding twelve years.

The proposed initiative, in other words, would allow legislators to serve longer (in terms of number of terms in office), but would actually reduce the maximum number of years that a legislator might serve, from fourteen years (the current limit) to twelve years.

In endorsing the proposed initiative, a number of members of the PCL Board of Directors emphasized that they thought the “Term Limits and Legislative Reform Act” was simply a first step in reforming the current terms limits law.

PCL urges our “Insider” readers to sign and circulate the term limits initiative, when the full text has been cleared for take off by the Attorney General.

If you’d like to get active in the campaign to qualify the initiative, PCL can hook you up with the initiative sponsors. Contact Gary Patton at gapatton@pcl.org.

There's still time to register for this year's Symposium – but please do it today!