Press Release
September 27, 2019
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Erin Ivie, Full Court Press Communications
510-550-8172 / [email protected]
OAKLAND— The California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV) issued a statement on September 27th condemning Governor Gavin Newsom’s veto of Senate Bill 1. The bill would have enabled California to swiftly fight back against the Trump administration’s rollback of environmental, public health, and labor protections, and keep our state on a path toward economic and environmental sustainability and growth.
Newsom vetoed the landmark bill by state Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins, even though it would have defended California from Trump’s persistent, reckless attempts to derail key environmental protections. This decision will have a grave impact on air and water pollution, and on the livelihood of Californians who are already suffering from a lack of access to clean air and safe drinking water.
Newsom’s veto comes at a time of urgent need for increased environmental safeguards, and new standards to protect Californians across the state. In September alone, the Trump administration has both weakened the Endangered Species Act and revoked California’s authority to set its own auto emissions standards. The signing of SB 1 would have provided a backstop for these foundational federal protections for clean air and water, endangered wildlife, and workers’ rights as the Administration continues to weaken or roll back these critical laws.
The following is a statement on the Governor’s veto from Mary Creasman, CEO of the California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV):
“Governor Newsom failed California families today. His veto on SB 1 shows that we are still lacking the leadership and political will to meet this moment, when California is supposed to be leading the fight against climate change.
This veto is about the poorest signal he could send just one week after the largest climate demonstration in history, in which thousands of young Californians rose up to voice their uncompromising and urgent call to action. They couldn’t have been more clear in their demands — many of these young people and their families are struggling to breathe, or don’t have access to safe water. They need their Governor to continue California’s leadership and protect their communities from federal attacks, not engage in false decisions between the economy and the environment that put us all at risk.
By siding with Trump and corporations over California’s families and wildlife, Governor Newsom is sending a clear message that California’s values are up for grabs. With limited time left to transition our economy and infrastructure in order to avoid a catastrophic climate crisis, rollbacks to these standards are simply unacceptable. Californians expect and demand more than soapboxing on climate change — we need action, and for our Governor to know he has a responsibility to lead the way on this charge.”
ABOUT CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL VOTERS
California Environmental Voters (formerly the California League of Conservation Voters) believes the climate crisis is here and this moment requires transformative change. California has the policy solutions to stop climate change but lacks the political will to do it at the rate and scale that’s necessary. EnviroVoters exists to build the political power to solve the climate crisis, advance justice, and create a roadmap for global action. We organize voters, elect and train candidates, and hold lawmakers accountable for bold policy change. We won’t stop until we have resilient, healthy, thriving communities, and a democracy and economy that is just and sustainable for all. Join us at www.envirovoters.org and on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. See more press releases.
