Governor Caps This Year's Budget Debacle with Cuts To Essential Public Services

PCL Insider: News from the Capitol

ADDING INJURY TO INJURY: GOVERNOR CAPS THIS YEAR'S BUDGET DEBACLE WITH MORE CUTS TO ESSENTIAL PUBLIC SERVICES

On Tuesday, Governor Schwarzenegger ended the longest state budget stand-off in California history by signing the $103 billion budget lawmakers approved at the end of last week. This version was not much different than the budget passed by the Legislature the first time, but there were apparently enough changes to appease the Governor. The new plan continues to rely on accounting gimmicks, includes severe cuts to education and social services, and lacks any revenue enhancements that could have helped us avoid another prolonged budget battle and more cuts next year.

Upon signing the budget, the Governor took the opportunity to line-item veto an additional $510 million in funding, including $100 million for public transportation. (That's after the Legislature's budget diverted $1.7 billion from public transportation to other programs.) The Governor also stripped millions from the already meager budgets of the Department of Fish and Game, Coastal Commission, Department of Parks of Recreation, and cut funding for the California Air Resources Board and the Department of Toxic Substance Control.

With the budget fight behind him, the Governor now has until the end of the month to act on the 850 bills awaiting his signature. There are several important environmental measures in the stack, including SB 974 (Lowenthal) which helps fund air quality improvements and environmentally sound traffic mitigation measures related to goods movement. Given the significant cuts to environmental programs this year and the fiscal problems we're going to face in the years ahead, measures like SB 974 that require polluters to pay for the pollution they generate are essential if California wants to continue to improve air quality and address the health impacts of air pollution.


Kick off to COnservation: STATE BEGINS PLANNING FOR TWENTY PERCENT REDUCTION IN URBAN WATER USE

Last week, the State kicked off a series of public workshops to follow through on Governor Schwarzenegger's February 2008 call for a 20 percent reduction of per capita water use in California by 2020.

At the first of the workshops, the 20x2020 Agency Team on Water Conservation asked stakeholders for ideas on mechanisms to achieve the Governor's goal. The Team also announced that they expect the workshops to result in implementing legislation next year.

If the team is looking for legislation, they're in luck, as the Legislature has already provided some progressive starting points this past session, including AB 2153 (Krekorian) and AB 2175 (Laird/Feuer). AB 2153, the Water Efficiency and Security Act, reduces per capita water use by providing a mechanism to achieve conservation in existing housing stock in order to accommodate the water demands of new development. AB 2153 also provides a funding mechanism that would not be dependent on the general fund or increased water rates for existing users. While these measures did not make it to the Governor's desk, they are likely to resurface in the 2009-2010 session, making them potential components for the 20x2020 plan.

The 20x2020 Agency Team will hold their second workshop in November.


NEXT STOP HUMBOLDT COUNTY: PCLF'S LOCAL CLIMATE ACTION WORKSHOP TOURS CALIFORNIA

The Planning and Conservation League Foundation is helping California get organized to fight global warming where it matters most - in our communities. Through our Local Climate Action Initiative, we're providing grassroots leaders with the tools they need to help their local governments adopt and better enforce policies to cut the carbon footprint of new development. As part of the Initiative, we provide an introductory workshop on policies and campaign strategy. Attendees receive a copy of our Local Climate Action Toolkit, which includes success stories from across California and gives tips on how to organize community support and ensure strong governmental action.

Our next introductory workshop is on September 30th in Humboldt County, presented in partnership with the Healthy Humboldt Coalition.

D Street Community Center (1301 D St.)
Arcata, California
6:30pm-9:00pm
FREE - RSVP Today!

Would you like to arrange a workshop in your community? If so, please contact Kristana Erikson at (916) 313-4519, or kerikson [at] pcl.org.


COME LEARN ABOUT THE LINK BETWEEN CLIMATE CHANGE AND PUBLIC HEALTH - ATTEND THE 5TH ANNUAL PSR/SACRAMENTO ANNUAL FUNDRAISER DINNER

The Sacramento Chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility (PSR/Sacramento) is pleased to announce that Deb Niemeier, PhD will be the keynote speaker at their Annual Fundraiser Dinner on October 4, 2008 at the Sacramento State University Alumni Center. Dr. Niemeier is professor of civil and environmental engineering and director of the John Muir Institute of the Environment at UC Davis. Her topic will be "Ought implies can: Five ways you can reduce the impact of climate change." Dinner is $60 ($30 student) and talk-only $20 ($10 student). Reservations can be made online or by payment with the reservation form. For more information: email info [at] sacpsr.org or call 916 955-6333.