Climate Change

Dying Days of California Legislature, Best and Worst of Government

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Mon, 09/14/2015 - 11:51
Want to make a crowded Capitol hallway nervous? Turn on a video camera. 
 
That's what we did in Sacramento over the last days of the California legislative session. We wanted to see what the dying days were like, and we found out: It's ugly. We watched bills appear, disappear or simply stall, lawmakers meeting with lobbyists, and lobbyists wanting to fight each other

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It's The Oil Industry, Stupid, But Is It Mail Fraud?

Submitted by Liza Tucker on Thu, 09/10/2015 - 16:01

The mailer that landed in thousands of Angelenos’ mailboxes earlier this week slamming California’s signature legislation to slash petroleum use in cars and trucks in half by 2030 was sent by a grassrootsie-sounding group called the California Drivers Alliance.

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Big Oil Slick Captures Capitol

Submitted by Jamie Court on Thu, 09/10/2015 - 06:51

The power of California’s oil refiners is always felt but rarely visible in Sacramento.  It was on full display at Wednesday’s press conference when the Governor, State Senate leader and Assembly Speaker acknowledged that California's effort to lead the world by cutting petroleum use in half was dead for the year due to oil company lobbying and advertising.

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Why CA Climate Change Will Lower Gasoline Prices

Submitted by Jamie Court on Wed, 09/09/2015 - 07:33

The fate of landmark climate legislation will be decided before the California statehouse closes for the year Friday. Its oil industry opponents are desperate to stop it, claiming the proposal will drive up prices at the pump.  In fact, Senate Bill 350,  currently written to cut California's gasoline use in half by 2030, will actually lower gasoline prices by increasing scarce gasoline inventories. 

That's why Big Oil is desperate to amend the legislation into oblivion.

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What Turns Oil Industry Lobbyists' Heads?

Submitted by Carmen Balber on Tue, 09/08/2015 - 17:19

Climate change doesn't turn the heads of oil industry lobbyists, but killing the Global Warming Solutions Act does the trick. This is a picture of the elbow-room-only scrum outside the Assembly gate as lobbyists wait to see the outcome of the Assembly floor vote on SB 32 by Senator Fran Pavley. SB 32 would codify California's commitment to reducing emissions by 2050 to 80% of 1990 levels.

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Bermuda Triangle, Area 51 and...Gas Price Spikes

Submitted by Eddie Barrera on Fri, 06/05/2015 - 10:44

State Senate leader Kevin de Leon had some fun with critics as he pushed for unprecedented climate change legislation this week. 

On the Senate floor as he spoke about SB 350, which calls for a dramatic reduction in petroleum use, greater energy efficiency in buildings,  and increasing renewable sources, the Los Angeles Democrat said trying to figure out how gas prices are "actually formulated" is one of the great mysteries of the world, like the Bermuda Triangle, Roswell and Area 51. 

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