PCL Insider: News from the Capitol
A GIANT SNIPPING SOUND – SENATE COMMITTEE TAKES FIRST
STAB AT CLOSING STATE BUDGET GAP
Wednesday, toiling under the looming February 23rd deadline
for the Special Legislative Session on California’s fiscal
crisis, the Senate Budget Committee approved a package of cuts
to reduce state spending this fiscal year by $1 billion. As part
of that package, the Senate committee adopted all the mid-year
cuts to the Resources Agency that the Governor had proposed when
he declared a fiscal emergency in January, including $1.4
million from the Department of Fish and Game’s
Biodiversity Program, and $1 million from California State
Parks.
The package was passed along party lines with the Republican
committee members abstaining from the vote.
Prior to the hearing, there had been talk of instituting new
fees to close the state budget gap, most notably a fee on home
insurance policies to help fund the California Department of
Forestry and Fire Protection. However, the only revenue
enhancement measure passed on Wednesday closed a yacht-sized
loophole in the state’s tax code which allows individuals
to avoid paying sales tax on large items like boats, motor homes
and airplanes if they take possession of the craft outside of
California and do not immediately bring it into the state.
The Senate committee also passed other measures to address
the $14.5 billion state budget shortfall expected in 2008-2009.
The Assembly Budget Committee met yesterday to discuss its
own recommendations.
CNTRL + B: STATE WATER BOARD TO CONSIDER BOLD ACTION ON
GLOBAL WARMING
Next Tuesday, the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB)
will meet in Sacramento to explore a set of proposed
measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from water use in
California.
That’s big news; the guidance that the board gives to
their staff at next week's hearing will shape the agency's
submittal to the California Air Resources Board for inclusion in
the AB
32 Scoping Plan, which will show how the State plans to
reduce California’s greenhouse gas emissions back to 1990
levels.
The proposed measures are generally commendable though at
times a bit short on details. Here are a few of the best:
- Require water recycling at wastewater treatment plants;
- Review water rights allocations to account for climate
change implications and mandate water conservation measures
through water rights; and,
- Ensure that water managers implement Best Management
Practices.
We hope the Board members support the bold proposals that
their staff have presented and strengthen those measures that
are currently weak or vague. In particular, we’d like to
see the Board support real, enforceable efficiency mandates that
benefit all Californians and do not erode public health
protections.
The California Department of Water Resources (DWR) plans to
collect public feedback on its proposed measures in late March.
So far, DWR’s greenhouse gas reduction measures have
fallen short. We’ll see if there are more ambitious ideas
presented next month.
For more information on next week’s hearing, please
contact PCL's Global Warming Program Manager, Matt Vander Sluis.
PCL FOUNDATION HOSTS SATURDAY CEQA WORKSHOPS –
SIGN UP TODAY!
The PCL Foundation is pleased to announce our upcoming
day-long workshops
on the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA),
California's premier environmental law. We'll review the
fundamentals of CEQA, identify the key legal obligations of
public agencies, and provide helpful tips on how to make sure
those obligations are met. We’ll also highlight how CEQA
can aid local residents fight global warming.
Saturday, March 1 – Los
Angeles/Orange County -- Register Now!
Saturday, April 5 - Monterey
– Register Now!
For more information, to request a workshop in your
community, or to learn about our updated Community
Guide to CEQA, please contact Melanie Schlotterbeck at
714-779-7561, or mschlotterbeck@pcl.org.
COASTAL CROWD
Check
out the crowd at last week’s California
Coastal Commission victory!
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