The Environmental Factor
"The Environmental Factor" is one of the ten factors that political analyst and Huffington Post blogger William Bradley wants you to consider about the 2010 governor's race in California:
"The Environmental Factor. Like Poizner, Whitman is decrying environmental regulation. She's claimed that regulations in general cost California four million jobs, a fantastical figure. But she wants to be seen as semi-green, or else she can't possibly win in California. So she says now that she opposes offshore oil drilling. Unfortunately for her, she was for it until a few weeks ago.
Whitman also wants to do away with California's landmark climate change program, AB 32. She hasn't endorsed a proposed initiative, funded principally in signature gathering by Texas oil companies, but a prominent lobbyist featured in one of her ads says she will."
It's important that Whitman, like all the candidates, recognize the importance of not just appearing "semi-green" to voters but actually embracing policies that will protect the environment and public health and strengthen our economy. Every opinion poll shows that Californians value clean air, clean water, access to open space, and healthy communities free of garbage and toxins.
The overwhelming majority of Californians also support the landmark Global Warming Solutions Act, which is now under threat by Texas oil companies who are bankrolling a self-serving proposal to kill the law and the clean energy future it promises to bring to the Golden State. The law was written by a Democrat, environmental champion (and now state Senator) Fran Pavley, and signed into law by a Republican governor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, in 2006.
Governor Schwarzenegger views the law, AB 32, as his legacy, even though he has (at best) been inconsistent on other environmental protections (including the ban on new offshore oil drilling). This is a law with bipartisan support which, when fully implemented, will bring opportunities for all Californians, regardless of party affiliation.
Whitman and all of the candidates for governor would do themselves a big favor by dropping the anti-regulation talk and embracing a law that is already drawing millions of dollars of investment in clean energy innovation and thousands of new jobs to California. This would go a long way to helping us decide who will be a truly "green" governor.
(1 vote)