For any environmentalist that has been hiding under a rock for the last two years, the opening for the 5th annual Green California Summit (sponsored by the California League of Conservation Voters) in Sacramento today clearly sounded the battle cry that environmental regulations are under attack and will be as long as conservatives are pitting the environment against jobs.
In a well timed wake up call, Senator Alan Lowenthal declared that environmental legislators must not continue to be "taken for granted" by legislative leaders. After a year in which environmental regulations that protect the states coast, water quality, air quality, and general environmental health were weakened, circumvented or assailed upon by the legislature, it was refreshing to hear this from a Senator. The question to be seen is can Lowenthal and other environmental legislators deliver or will they continue to let the big five push through environmental concessions in the name of the economy.
One ally of the environmental community may hold the silver bullet to protecting environmental issues during an economic recession. Bob Balgenorth, President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council, passionately advocated that the environmental and labor communities can work together to generate legislation that promotes "good jobs and a clean environment."
For any environmentalist that has been hiding under a rock for the last two years, the opening for the 5th annual Green California Summit (sponsored by the Conservation League of California Voters) in Sacramento today clearly sounded the battle cry that environmental regulations are under attack and will be as long as conservatives are pitting the environment against jobs.
In a well timed wake up call, Senator Alan Lowenthal declared that environmental legislators must not continue to be "taken for granted" by legislative leaders. After a year in which environmental regulations that protect the states coast, water quality, air quality, and general environmental health were weakened, circumvented or assailed upon by the legislature, it was refreshing to hear this from a Senator. The question to be seen is can Lowenthal and other environmental legislators deliver or will they continue to let the big five push through environmental concessions in the name of the economy.
One ally of the environmental community may hold the silver bullet to protecting environmental issues during an economic recession. Bob Balgenorth, President of the State Building and Construction Trades Council, passionately advocated that the environmental and labor communities can work together to generate legislation that promotes "good jobs and a clean environment."
