Earth Equity News

Ballot Drive to Suspend California Climate Law May be Running Out of Steam. By Colin Sullivan, ClimateWire, February 11, 2010. "An election-year push to suspend California's climate change law appears to be struggling amid rumors that supporters are having trouble raising enough money to gather the signatures needed [433,000 by April 16] to place the issue on the November ballot... But many close to the process say the effort has flagged in recent weeks and has yet to begin gathering signatures with about two months left until the deadline... Further complicating the drive was a decision last week by Attorney General Jerry Brown, the leading Democratic candidate to be the next governor, to revise the ballot initiativeto reflect his interpretation of its intent... The measure [was filed] with the attorney general's office as the 'California Jobs Initiative,' but Brown, who has the authority to rename ballot measures, decided to go his own way. Brown's revised title is this: 'Suspends Air Pollution Control Laws Requiring Major Polluters to Report and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions That Cause Global Warming Until Unemployment Drops Below Specified Level for Full Year.' That means any attempt to gather signatures would have to present that mouthful to prospective signers. The drafters of the measure have the right to sue Brown to change the title, but that would create further delays while attorneys battle it out in court."