Sierra Club California Opposes Proposition 23: Proposed Big Oil Initiative
Big Texas oil companies are trying to buy their way out of cleaning up their California refineries and fuels. Companies like Valero and Tesoro recently announced that they plan on fully funding a November ballot initiative that would halt clean energy efforts and pollution control standards aimed at cleaning up our air and atmosphere for our kids and future generations.
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For more information: www.StopDirtyEnergyProp.com

Sierra Club California Opposes Proposition 26: Polluter Protection Act
According to Bill Magavern, Director, Sierra Club California“Big Oil and Big Tobacco have spent the decade since then looking for an opportunity to bring this Big Ugly Initiative back. “Prop 26 would reclassify many fees as taxes, so that they would require a two-thirds majority of each house of the Legislature, or, at the local level, a two-thirds vote by the electorate. The oil, tobacco and liquor industries want to make it virtually impossible to require polluters and other creators of nuisances to pay to clean up their own messes. Their measure would overturn the unanimous 1997 decision of the California Supreme Court, Sinclair Paint Company v. Board of Equalization, which upheld the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act of 1991. In that case, the paint company tried to avoid its responsibility for having put toxic lead in its products, and the Court upheld the Legislature’s ability pass mitigation fees by majority vote.Fees assessed on polluters provide vital funding for essential programs that safeguard Californians’ health and environment. These charges save taxpayers money and put the costs of environmental protections on those who have created the problems.
For more information, please go to http://www.stoppolluterprotection.com.

Vote YES On Prop 25 to Ease Budget Gridlock and Curb Anti-Environmental Schemes
Sierra Club supports Proposition 25, which would allow state budgets to be passed by a simple majority of each house of the Legislature. The anti-democratic two-thirds requirement for passing budgets has created opportunities for anti-environmental mischief. One of the most egregious examples came in 2007, when 14 Senate Republicans held the budget hostage to their demand for non-fiscal legislation weakening the California Environmental Quality Act’s application to global warming.In addition, the budget gridlock that is in part caused by the two-thirds requirement has damaged our air, water and resources. The empowerment of a minority of legislators has resulted in slashing funding for public transit, raiding recycling and clean-air funds, and starving important agencies like the Coastal Commission.
Prop 25 would move us closer to fiscal sanity and remove one avenue for anti-environmental legislative schemes.

Sierra Club California Supports Proposition 21: California State Parks Initiative
Sacramento — Sierra Club California endorsed Proposition 21, the State Parks and Wildlife Conservation Trust Fund Act of 2010, a statewide initiative slated for the November 2010 ballot, that would provide a stable, reliable and adequate source of funding to protect state parks and conserve wildlife.“With our state parks facing an insurmountable funding crisis and irreparable damage, it is essential we provide our parks with a sustainable and reliable funding stream,” said Jim Metropulos, Senior Advocate of Sierra Club California. “For years California’s 278 state parks have been an integral public asset that residents and visitors alike enjoyed, and it is imperative we maintain these priceless assets for our children and future generations.”Proposition 21 would ensure a dedicated and reliable funding stream for state parks through an $18 annual State Park Access Pass surcharge and, in return, would provide vehicles subject to the surcharge free, year-round admission to state parks.Sierra Club California now joins a strong coalition including –California State Parks Foundation, The Trust for Public Land, Save the Redwoods League, Defenders of Wildlife, Surfrider Foundation, California State Park Rangers Association, Audubon California, California State Lifeguard Association and Ocean Conservancy.
For more information on Proposition 21, please visit www.yesforstateparks.com

For a full list of supported and opposed legislation please visit the Sierra Club of California's Priority Bills page. Source: Sierra Club California

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Tom Cotter covers green and sustainability topics in the Fresno area for Green Fresno. He is the co-founder of GreenFresno.org and Sales Manager for Central California with Real Goods Solar. Tom is involved in organizing the Fresno Solar Tour, Fresno Earth Day, Fresno Green Week and other events with a focus of renewable energy, ecological responsibility and environmental education. He is also a frequent speaker around the valley at similarly themed gatherings.