The Guvernator just announced that California is striking out on its own to enter into greenhouse gas emissions deals with developing countries in partnership with the United Nations. So, keep reading. You might be surprised.
(cont.)
(also available at Booman Tribune)
The 2010 election was the year of The Empire Strikes Back. Big Oil, the coal industry, and corporate polluters are desperate to stop the momentum toward clean energy that's been building for years. You can't stop the construction of 139 coal-fired power plants, implement the first-ever fuel-economy standards for medium and heavy trucks, or put the "protect" back into the Environmental Protection Agency without provoking a reaction.
In this case, the Dirty Energy Empire broke all campaign spending records and used their financial Death Star to target any politician who took a stand on clean energy and global warming. It may not have been a subtle strategy, but it was effective. What it doesn't change, though, is that most Americans still disagree with Big Oil and Big Coal about environmental and energy issues.
This weekend, we will see a full-page ad in the California newspapers (just in case anyone still reads newspapers).
I heard about the ad via the internets' version of newpaper, or the newpaper version of the internets.
Leave it to our California activists to transform the California vs Texas World Series into a chance to make a political statement.
On Sunday, a huge print ad will run in various publications opposing Prop 23 -- the measure that would overturn California's ground-breaking 2006 climate change law.
It's the most creative static political ad I've seen in a long time.
We not only need Prop 23 to fail, we need an EPIC FAIL.
Earlier this week, I profiled three candidates on the the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) Dirty Dozen list who are running for the House of Representatives. Yesterday, I continued my series with Part 2--Four Filthy Senators. Both of these diaries described the anti-environmental records of candidates who consistently vote (or promise to vote) against clean energy and natural resource conservation.
Join me over the fold for part 3, in which I profile the final three GOTeaP senate candidates on the LCV's list, all of whom put the Tea in GOTeaP. I also include a first from the LCV--a propostion has been named to the list, making this a Dirty Baker's Dozen. Most important of all, I include action items for their Democratic opponents and the No on 23 campaign.
The multi-billionaire libertarian Koch brothers are bankrolling efforts across American to undermine the basic principles of American Democracy. Thanks to the Roberts-led SCOTUS and Citizens United, it is clear that their billions, of course, have more merit than your one vote.
One of their efforts: massive bankrolling of Proposition 23 in California designed to turn back the clock from 21st century climate action to 19th century polluting fossil foolish ways.
California citizen and Marine-Corps veteran Joel Francis has had enough. His message to Koch Industries CEO Charles Koch to a debate on Proposition 23.
I challenge you to a public debate.
You pick the terms.
And, I'll meet you.
Anytime.
Anywhere ...
It was announced at this press conference that Van Jones, Dolores Huerta and Pam Tau Lee have joined the fight against Proposition 23. The three endorsed Communities United Against the Dirty Energy Prop, a grassroots coalition established to engage low income Californians and communities of color against Prop 23, the ballot measure written to nix in California our climate change law, AB 32.
The message from the phone conference was that Prop 23 is a very underhanded measure designed to continue pollution that is now harming our health, and to protect Big Oil from having to compete with green energy investments that are now booming in California. It is not a job protector but a destroyer of jobs and good health.
By Kristin Eberhard
Originally posted on The MarkUp.
Now that Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has announced her opposition on Proposition 23, this dirty energy proposition stands as the main issue that she and the Democratic candidate Jerry Brown agree on. While Whitman’s stance against Proposition 23 is good news for California, jobs and our strong clean air and health standards, it is troubling that she coupled her technical opposition while simultaneously announcing her intent to suspend AB 32 for at least a year if elected Governor. Her position sounds like she wants it both ways. Delaying AB 32 would throw a monkey wrench into the implementation of our clean energy polices, and significantly hamper the transition of the state – indeed, the nation – to a clean energy economy.
Proposition 23 is the referendum measure in California which would eliminate suspend the state law, the Global Warming Solutions Act (a/k/a AB 32), that calls for lowering California's greenhouse gas emissions until California's unemployment rate hits 5.5% (well that is effectively the elimination of the law). That law was passed with Republican Arnold Schwartzenegger's active support in 2006.
Not too long ago the polls indicated that Californians rejected Proposition 23 by roughly a 60 to 40 margin. That was back at the end of July. Now however, since the infusion of big corporate cash and ad buys from Big Oil, such as the Koch Brothers (which I wrote about HERE), a new poll has been released are showing that the likely voters who are willing to vote for Prop 23 is now roughly equal to those opposed to its passage.
Call me shocked, just shocked to find that there's gambling with California's future in this election.
The state legislator responsible for placing Proposition 23, the anti-climate measure, on the ballot is...a climate zombie. And one of Proposition 23's out of state dirty energy supporters, Koch Industries, Patient Zero of the climate zombie infection is holding a fundraiser tomorrow night for climate zombie Senate wannabe Carly Fiorina.
WWMWD? Will Meg Whitman endorse Proposition 23 and its oil-soaked supporters, or will she join the forward-thinking California businesses who urge a no vote?
This year, climate activists have been on the defensive. The climate bill died in the Senate. Senator Lisa Murkowski's (R-Baked Alaska) effort to roll back the Clean Air Act came close to passing the Senate. Politicians both Blue Dog and red complained that jobs were more important than climate. In this environment, California's Proposition 23 -- an initiative to suspend the state's global warming law until unemployment reaches 5.5% for a year -- seemed like a slam-dunk.
But a funny thing happened. Californians are more bothered by the ideas that Proposition 23's funding is 97% from oil companies and 89% out of state, and that it'll destroy our clean air, than they are by the myth -- and it is a myth -- of Proposition 23 saving jobs to be killed by the global warming law.
The secretive, many-tentacled Koch Industries has just donated a million dollars to the Yes on 23 campaign. Tesoro Industries, another Texas oil business, has matched that amount. Scorecard:
Total Contributions to date: $8,221,096
Contributions from oil interests: $7,987,995 (97% of the total)
Contributions from out of state: $7,307,995 (89% of the total)
Valero, Tesoro & Koch Industries: $6,575,000 (80% of the total)
This fall, California voters will vote on Proposition 23, officially termed a "suspension" of California's global warming law (AB32) "until unemployment reaches 5.5%" and named by its supporters a "jobs initiative."
The battle should play out exactly as similar battles over federal climate policies: conservatives claim it'll destroy jobs, raise taxes, and increase family energy costs; environmentalists valiantly-yet-unsuccessfully try to set the record straight, only to be ignored by middle class voters worried about pocketbook issues.
But a funny thing is happening.
The narrative is shaping up to be quite different. The shadowy interests behind Prop 23 are being exposed to the light. And Prop 23 is being opposed by clean technology investors who see a stark choice: build the future or burn the planet.
Consider it evidence of hope.
