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The California Progress Report is published by Frank D. Russo, a longtime observer of and participant in California politics.

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You Can Help the Environment Today—By Voting in California

By Susan Smartt
Executive Director of the California League of Conservation Voters

You may already have received your California absentee ballot. It could be sitting on your coffee table, or in that pile of mail. We want to remind you that the most important thing you can do today for the environment is pick up that ballot, fill it out, vote NO on Proposition 98 and YES on Proposition 99, and drop it off at your polling place tomorrow.

If you've already sent in your ballot - THANKS!

If you are planning to vote at the polls - TODAY - on June 3, make sure to cast your vote No on Prop 98 and Yes on Prop 99.

Legal analysis of Proposition 98 shows that hidden provisions in Prop 98 would wipe out environmental regulations.

Here's how: Prop 98's language would prohibit laws and regulations that "transfer an economic benefit to one or more private persons at the expense of the private owner." The problem with that language is that courts have ruled that virtually all environmental protections technically impose costs on the affected party and transfer economic benefits to other private parties. Therefore, Prop 98 would instantly gut a wide range of laws and regulations that protect our environment and regulate growth and development, such as:

• AB 32 regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other laws to limit climate change;

• Protection of endangered species and their habitats;

• Protection of open spaces, coastal areas, wetlands, agricultural land, and cultural and historic sites;

• "Smart growth" regulations that promote compact, walkable, and transit-oriented communities;

• And many more.

Remember to vote NO on Proposition 98 and to vote YES on Proposition 99, which is eminent domain reform (prohibiting government from taking homes to transfer to private developers) without the hidden agendas and adverse consequences of Prop 98.

Because turnout is expected to be low on June 3, your vote is especially critical to stop Proposition 98 and elect environmental champions. Read more about what's at stake on June 3.

The California League of Conservation Voters works to elect the best environmental leaders, keep them accountable, and implement strong environmental laws in California. Candidates know that their endorsement is one of the premier environmental endorsements in the state, because their endorsement process is so rigorous. (CLCV routinely elects over 90% of the candidates it endorses.) When CLCV advocates for strong environmental laws, legislators and public officials take note of more than three decades of success and the more than 20,000 CLCV members who stand behind their work.

Posted on June 03, 2008

Comments

I find it funny that you can't think of a legitimate reason to oppose 98, so you play on people's memory of Prop 90 and equate it to 98. It can work at times, but it's completely wrong to do that. These allegations have been refuted by the Legislative Analyst and the California Superior Court. They said quite clearly that 98 "would not prohibit every environmental or land use regulation merely because the regulation involves some transfer of economic benefits."

If you want to oppose 98 for its eminent domain, rent control and/or inclusionary housing provisions, fine. But don't resort to these straw men attacks that make me question your credibility

Posted by: Ben at June 3, 2008 02:39 PM

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