When will Republican legislators catch up with their constituents?

The Sierra Club's 2006 report card for the California legislature reveals that partisan division continues to mark our lawmakers on environmental issues. Not a single one of the Assembly's 32 Republicans voted for the pro-environment position on more than two of the 11 most important floor votes. Across the aisle, 46 of the house's 48 Democrats voted with the public interest at least five out of 11 times, and 19 of them had 100% records. Records in the Senate showed an even starker partisan difference.

What's odd about this deep division is that it does not at all reflect the sentiments of Republican voters, who, according to public opinion polls, are almost as concerned about environmental protection as Democrats. For example, in a July survey, the Public Policy Institute of California asked: "What about the proposal made by Gov. Schwarzenegger and other legislators to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state back to 1990 levels by the year 2020?"; 65% of Republicans said they favored it, compared to 67% of Democrats and 68% of independents. Yet only one of the Republicans in the Assembly, and none in the Senate, voted for that proposal, the Global Warming Solutions Act, AB 32, which garnered votes from 46 of the 48 Assembly Democrats and 23 of the 25 Senate Democrats.

Attitudes on air pollution were similar. Surveyors asked: "Would you be willing to see tougher air-pollution standards on ships, trucks, and trains that transport freight and cargo?" and followed up for yes answers with: "Would this be true even if this made it more costly for these businesses to operate?" 68% of Republicans said yes to both questions, compared to 77% of independents and 83% of Democrats. But 100% of the legislature's Republicans opposed SB 927, which would have assessed a small fee on container cargo to pay for air quality, security and transportation improvements at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The bill passed with only Democratic votes, but was vetoed by Republican Gov. Schwarzenegger.

The Sierra Club believes that protecting our air, water and wilderness for our families and for our future is not a partisan issue. Unfortunately, Sacramento's Republican legislators are not listening to their own constituents on this issue.

The performance of our legislature makes a major environmental impact well beyond the borders of California. As the Bush administration and Republican-dominated Congress have sunk into a swamp of corruption and denial, other states and even some foreign countries are increasingly looking to the Golden State for leadership on many ecological matters. For example, 10 other states have now adopted California's Clean Car standards, and other states are already considering taking action modeled on the new California Global Warming Solutions Act.

Sierra Club California's report cards on California legislators' performance on the most important votes of the 2006 session are now posted on our web site

All Bay Chapter senators scored 100%, except for Jackie Speier*, who had a still-excellent 8/9. Our assemblymembers, however, had a wider range (Houston is the only Republican in the Chapter's delegation.):

• Wilma Chan* 100%
• Loni Hancock 100%
• Mark Leno 100%
• Joe Nation* 100%
• Johan Klehs* 91%
• Leland Yee** 73%
• Joe Canciamilla* 45%
• Alberto Torrico 45%
• Guy Houston 9%

*Retiring from legislature.
**Retiring from Assembly; entering Senate.

Bill Magavern, Sierra Club California senior legislative representative