PCL Insider: News from the Capitol

BEHEMOTH BUDGET BATTLES BEGIN TO BLOSSOM: TIME FOR A FISCAL EMERGEN-C?

As though concurrent Special Legislative Sessions on water and heath care were not enough to keep lawmakers busy, California's looming state budget crisis prompted Governor Schwarzenegger to declare a fiscal emergency for California, triggering yet another 45-day Special Session. According to the Special Session guidelines, the Legislature now has until the end of February to pass legislation addressing the state's fiscal health. 

The Governor has also released his state budget proposal for 2008-09, which aims to close the expected $14 billion gap between revenues and expenditures, and issued recommendations for immediate spending cuts and other policies to cope with the funding shortfalls before a new state budget goes into effect later this year.

The biggest battle looms over how to close the $14 billion gap. The Administration has asked all state departments and agencies to reduce their General Fund spending for 2008-09 by ten percent.

Natural resource agencies that are heavily dependent on General Fund allocations would be particularly affected, facing severe reductions in personnel and services. The most dramatic example is the proposed closure of 48 state parks throughout California.

The Assembly Budget Committee has prepared a summary of the Governor's proposed budget.

The Governor is also recommending a fee on homeowners' insurance policies to fund Cal Fire, the agency responsible for combating wild fires. PCL and our environmental partners are pressing the Legislature to ensure that land use decisions better account for risks such as fire and flood by requiring developments in the most at-risk areas to pay a higher fee than developments in low risk areas. 

Stay tuned for more news on the progress of budget discussions!

DISAPPOINTMENT AT THE CAPITOL: JANUARY DEADLINE STRANDS ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES

This Thursday was the deadline for bills introduced during the 2007 legislative session to get passed out of their "house of origin" (the house in which they were introduced).

Unfortunately two key environmental bills, AB 1457 (Huffman) and AB 493 (Ruskin), have fallen victim to Thursday's deadline.

As we reported several weeks ago, AB 1457 (Huffman) sought to increase protections for state parks.

AB 493 (Ruskin), the "California Clean Car Discount" bill, would have directed the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to establish a system in which buyers of lower greenhouse gas emitting vehicles would have earned a one-time rebate while the purchase of higher emitting vehicles would have incurred a one-time surcharge. The bill would have provided for a 20-25 percent "zero band" of vehicles that would have neither a rebate nor a surcharge. 

Despite the efforts by the bill's sponsor (the Union of Concerned Scientists) and support from PCL and a broad coalition of environmental, labor, health and consumer groups, the bill did not receive the needed 41 votes to get off the Assembly floor.

With over 1.9 million new vehicles purchased each year in California, our state is in a continual race to stay ahead of global warming emissions from cars and trucks.  Even with existing vehicle regulations, the bulk of the emissions in California that contribute to global warming and pollute our air come from motor vehicles.  California needs a policy such as the Clean Car Discount if we are to successfully meet the challenges of global warming. PCL will continue to work with the sponsor and all the bill supporters to make this vision a reality.

WE'VE GOT A PROPOSITION FOR YOU – SUPPORT PROP 93!

For those thinking about their ballot choices, this is just a very brief reminder that the Planning and Conservation League Board of Directors is urging your "Yes" vote on Proposition 93, the Term Limits Reform measure.

PCL has been convinced that allowing members of the California Assembly and Senate to serve longer terms in one House (with an overall reduction in the term of service) would be a net gain for those working in the Legislature for better environmental laws.

Don't forget to vote!

EXTEND YOURSELF!

UCLA Extension provides a series of specialized seminars in land use, environmental law, planning, and public finance. Just last week, PCL Executive Director Gary Patton helped kick off UCLA Extension's 22nd Annual Land Use Law and Planning Conference with a rousing set of observations on "General Plans Under Siege."

For those who'd like to plan ahead for upcoming UCLA programs, mark your calendars for a two day workshop on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) on February 7th and 8th, and an intensive look at "CEQA and Other Legislative Mandates" on March 7th.

You can get more information, and register online, at www.uclaextension.edu/publicpolicy

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