Schwarzenegger Calls For Relaxation Of Environmental Laws To Aid Economic Growth

[hatrack]

Tensions are rising between environmental groups and California's Governor Schwarzenegger as he seeks to rein in environmental protection measures in an attempt to kickstart the economy. Schwarzenegger has built himself a reputation as a world leader on tackling climate change and has imposed some of the most stringent green regulations anywhere in the US since he took office.

However, his state's budget crisis is now so severe that some reports claim the government will run out of money next month - a scenario that prompted Schwarzenegger to write to President-Elect Obama earlier this month, asking him to "Waive or greatly streamline National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) requirements consistent with our statutory proposals to modify the California Environment Quality Act (CEQA) for transportation projects". CEQA demands that an environmental review is undertaken before any project requiring Government approval can go ahead.

The move was seized upon by green groups as evidence that the Governor was seeking to roll back important environmental protections in an attempt to accelerate state capital investment projects

EDIT

Speaking at press conference this week, Schwarzenegger said that the relaxation of the environmental rules was needed to helkp tackle rising unemployment. "It’s about jobs, jobs, jobs," he said. "That's why I've been adamant about easing environmental regulations and other red tape in order to get the infrastructure going, to get infrastructure projects moving as quickly as possible."

EDIT

Ed. - emphasis added.

http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2234282/struggling-schwarzenegger-eyes

[tabatha]

1. Absolutely NOT

Get green, environmentally safe structures going.

Idiot.

[Gregorian]

2. It's time to vote out the braindead. We need intelligence in our offices.

Dumbshit!

[tularetom]

3. I'd gloat except Obama may have to do something similar

One of the most important components od any public works project is the environmental clearance. There are many agencies that must be contacted and given the opportunity to comment on the project and this takes time. Anyone who wants to kick start a program of infrastructure improvements is going to have to face the environmental review phase and find a way to expedite or accelerate it.

[DCKit]

4. Ahnold is over and done.

But like every other Republic, he still believes himself to be relevant.

Just say "NO" CA - but only to Republicons.

[The2ndWheel]

5. Since the economy exists within the environment

I don't know how it's physically possible to grow the economy without it coming at the cost of the environment.

It would be better for the economy if we cut down all the trees, made products out of the lumber, and then made some type of machine that replaced the function on the trees, which required maintenance, and upgrades, etc, etc. To leave the trees there creates 0 jobs. To cut them down and replace them with complex machinery would generate who knows how many jobs.

To pick a berry and eat it would create 0 jobs. To plant a bunch of berry bushes that were selected for specific traits that led to increased profits after mass produced consumption, that creates a crap load of jobs.

[hunter]

6. Dick Cheney has left the building, Arnold.

Best start serving the people.

[kestrel91316]

7. Ahnuld the TURNCOAT. Faux environmentalist, after all........

Gosh, no one could have forseen THIS.

[Xithras]

8. California is dead no matter what.

I heard an economist on the radio yesterday who summed it up nicely: "California is on the verge of cutting off welfare checks, shutting down all of its schools, shutting down highway maintenance, and laying off its law enforcement officers, and yet the legislature is doing nothing. Why? Because there is nothing they CAN do."

He went on to explain how even a total Republican surrender on the tax increases won't save the state now (the money can't make it into the state coffers fast enough), and how none of the normal sources are willing to lend money to the state. He made a pretty good case that California may need to get a short term loan from the federal government just to keep from shutting down entirely, and may have to file bankruptcy. The implications of that scenario were grim (federal courts could order the state to sell off public lands including parks, people who get IOU's instead of tax refund checks may never see that money, etc, ad nauseum).

By the way, the regulations he wants to ease are primarily EIR requirements for major new projects.

[Javaman]

9. what. a. fucking. jerk. nt

[XemaSab]

10. Interesting suggestion

Maybe there's a way to analayze, for example, rereouting of only sensitive areas of a linear project instead of rerouting the whole damn thing.

And "no project," of course. ;)

[diane in sf]

11. He's exactly wrong...

[texastoast]

12. Arnie, please note

You can't eat money.