Kevin De León

Senate Turns Up Heat on Gov Brown's PUC Nominee

Senate leader Kevin de Leon took the unusual step of withholding his support for Governor Brown’s nominees to the Public Utilities Commission (PUC), Cliff Rechtschaffen and Martha Guzman Aceves, arguing that they have many questions to answer before de Leon agrees to give them a vote by the full Senate.

Panel Serves Up Tepid Recommendations For Reforming The Toxics Agency

While Governor Jerry Brown vetoed Senate pro Tem Kevin de León’s signature legislation a year ago to revamp the Department of Toxics Substances Control (DTSC), he approved funds for an Independent Review Panel to advise what to do with the profoundly dysfunctional agency. In vetoing the powerful legislation, Brown signaled that he wants business as usual.

Big Oil Gives CA Energy Commission and Californians The Finger

Governor Brown appointed the California Energy Commission (CEC) Petroleum Market Advisory (PMAC) to look into potential market manipulation by oil refiners in the state.
 
That's going to be hard to do now that the trade association for oil refiners, the Western States Petroleum Association, is telling the CEC and PMAC it won't participate in any discussions about supply disruptions or gas price spikes. In other words, FU.
 

Toxics Agency a Little Less Toxic Due to Legislation

After years of criticism over lax oversight of polluters, the Legislature and governor have finally taken action and given more enforcement power to the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). The legislation is a good move forward, but more could be done. 
 

Will De León Hold Top Regulator Accountable For Cleanup of Boeing's Toxic Site?

When Barbara Lee came up for confirmation as Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control in July, 50 groups begged the California Senate Rules Committee and Senate pro Tem Kevin de León to put off a vote until Lee, who had been in office six months, took action to punish serial hazardous waste polluters, deny them permits, and force them to clean up communities under toxic assault.

The Rules Committee confirmed her anyway, but she got fair warning.

Volkswagen Scandal Shows Why Big Oil Wanted to Gut Air Resources Board

Big Oil wanted to gut the Air Resources Board during a major climate change legislative fight earlier this month, and this week, we had yet another glimpse of why.

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