California League of Conservation Voters E-newsletter

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CLCV and the Governor: face to face

CLCV was instrumental in organizing a meeting between representatives of thirty environmental groups and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on August 11 in Sacramento. The California League of Conservation Voters had a sizable presence; Executive Director Susan Smartt moderated the meeting, and eight of the thirteen speakers were current CLCV staff or board members.

The environmental community delivered a uniform message to the Governor: “You released a strong action plan for the environment in your campaign. We’d like to help you implement it.” For each agenda item, the environmental community asked for specific follow-up. CLCV asked for, and got, a meeting to discuss our legislative priorities with the Governor’s legislative secretary, Richard Costigan, and his environmental deputy Dennis Albiani before the session ended. We also asked for a meeting, which will be scheduled soon, with the Governor or his key staff after bills reach his desk.

Though environmentalists praised the governor for his positive acts so far, they expressed some disappointment with the recently released budget. Although the budget included $61 million to fund the Carl Moyer program to clean up diesel pollution, it included no new "polluter pays" fees to raise funds to clean up pollution from those who create it, and it underfunded the Resources Agency, a key overseer of parks and public lands.

Schwarzenegger himself made a formidable impression. “He acted like a governor—like a CEO,” said one presenter. “He was engaged and asked good questions.” The meeting was scheduled to be 45 minutes long; it went over an hour.