The governor signed AB 32 four years ago. It requires the state to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. But critics are backing an initiative to suspend that law until the state’s unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent for at least a year. Two Texas oil companies are reportedly funding the initiative. Schwarzenegger called that news “outrageous.”
Schwarzenegger: “I think it’s just greed, and I think they just want to go and make decisions over another state.”
But Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue, who supports the initiative, says AB 32 would cost the state far too many jobs – especially during the recession. And as for those oil companies?
Logue: “I’m very proud to have anybody step up to the plate who recognizes that we have 12.5 percent unemployment, we’re the only state in the union going it alone on a global warming initiative.”
Backers of the push to suspend the law are out in the field gathering signatures. They hope to send the measure to voters in November.