May 28 - House Republicans Want Governor to Back Down on Emissions (Sac Bee)

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today delivered his state of the state address, saying that California will continue to be at the forefront of environmental change on climate change, low carbon fuels, and energy efficiency, even if it means suing the federal government to do so.

The address mostly focused on budget reform, health care, education and a strategic growth plan. The Governor proposes to establish a strategic growth council to coordinate spending to best promote efficiency, sustainability to support the Governor's economic and environmental goals.

Read full text of the Governor's State of the State Address.

Read the Democratic response to the Governor's State of the State Address.

For the third year in a row, Governor Schwarzenegger has vetoed legislation that would have expanded recycling opportunities to the more than 7 million Californians living in apartments and other multifamily dwellings that still lack a basic recycling opportunity where they live.

CAW-sponsored AB 548 (Levine) would have required apartment owners to provide recycling services to their tenants. In his veto message, the Governor says:

I support efforts to reduce the amount of solid waste going to the state’s landfills, but this bill places requirements directly onthe owner/operators of multifamily dwellings causing significant cost for the private owners of these properties. Additionally, local governments already have the authority to mandate the action envisioned by this bill. I encourage the Integrated Waste Management Board to continue in its efforts to provide adequate tools and resources to local jurisdictions in order to make available increased recycling opportunities for multifamily dwelling residents.

The Governor; however, did sign SB 1021 (Padilla), which will use unclaimed bottle bill deposits to help fund multifamily recycling. This at least provides a starting point in getting recycling to the multifamily dwellings who don't currently have access to such opportunities in the state, but doesn't solve the problem completely.

Assembly Member Lloyd Levine has already committed to reintroducing the recycling proposal next year.

These bills mark the end of CAW's long and tough legislative session, which had both successes and disappointments. We are already busy preparing to take on new legislation to increase recycling and reduce waste.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today vetoed legislation that would have phased out the use of certain hazardous materials in most consumer electronics.

AB 48 by Assemblymember Lori Saldaña would have prohibited the sale in California of electronic devices that contain certain hazardous materials, including lead and mercury, consistent with the European Union's RoHS (Reduction of Hazardous Substances) directive by 2010.

Read the Governor's Veto Message.

AB 48 was sponsored by Californians Against Waste and supported by local government, waste haulers and recyclers, environmental groups, and even manufacturers.

While CAW has worked on this issue for the past two legislative sessions with no signature by the Governor, our campaign is far from over.

We thank everyone who sent in support letters-organizational and individual-especially over the past few weeks to the Governor. We appreciate your support and CAW plans to continue to work on toxic and electronic waste legislation in the next legislation session.

This has been a long and active legislative session for CAW. Our work is dependent on contributions from people like you who support conserving resources and preventing pollution through nation leading waste reduction and recycling policy. Please consider making a tax deductible online contribution today to support our work.