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<br />8A <br />Page 2 <br /> <br />'SB 375' Continued from Page 1... <br /> <br />"City officials across California are deeply committed to implementing plans to reduce green <br />house gas emissions, and the League appreciates Sen. Steinberg's leadership in authoring and <br />brokering an agreement on SB 375," said Fargo. "We are proud to give our unanimous <br />endorsement of this historic legislation." <br /> <br />Joining Sen. Steinberg at the podium was Sen. Denise Ducheny (D-San Diego), the co-author of <br />SB 375. Sen. Stenberg and others present spoke about the importance of this legislation for <br />California's history and how all the parties involved had to compromise to come up with a final bill <br />that will advance the state's efforts to address climate change, energy efficiency and <br />environmental protection. <br /> <br />The press conference Wednesday morning included all the major stakeholders of SB 375. Mayor <br />Fargo and Rancho Cordova Council Member Ken Cooley represented the League. Yolo County <br />Supervisor Mike McGowan spoke on behalf of the California State Association of Counties <br />(CSAC). <br /> <br />The two environmental groups sponsoring the legislation were present at the event: Tom Adams, <br />president of the board of the California League of Conservation Voters and Ann Notthoff, the <br />California advocacy director of the National Resources Defense Fund. Ray Becker, the 2008 <br />California Building Industry Association (CBIA) chair, commented on the fact that he was <br />pleasantly surprised to be standing with Adams supporting legislation. Ed Manning, a lobbyist <br />representing the Major Builders Association, echoed Becker's comments. <br /> <br />Next Step <br /> <br />SB 375 was taken up by the Assembly Committee on Appropriations on Thursday, Aug. 7, where <br />it was moved off the suspense file. Sen. Steinberg and the stakeholders supporting the bill are <br />optimistic that it will go to the full Assembly for a vote and on to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's <br />desk to be signed. <br /> <br />SB 375 History <br /> <br />The developments that occurred this week represent a monumental shift from where the League <br />board was as recently as late last month. Introduced in 2007, the League has long understood <br />that SB 375 presented a historic opportunity to reward land use and development decisions that <br />help reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. <br /> <br />Deeply committed to reducing GHGs, many California cities are already implementing plans to <br />reduce their carbon foot prints and promote energy efficiency. Transportation and housing <br />planning are key to creating communities with both a high quality of life and lowered emissions. <br /> <br />The League's staff and board of directors devoted so much attention to SB 375 because of the <br />belief that it could better align a variety of regional planning functions for housing, transportation <br />and land use to help California cities both build more sustainable cities and meet the need for <br />more affordable housing. <br /> <br />Resource <br /> <br />For an overview of the amendments to SB 375, a document is now available on the League's <br />Web site as a resource at www.cacities.orq/resource files/27104.375DeaISummarv.pdf. <br /> <br />'Budget' Continued from Page 1... <br /> <br />Dueling Loggerheads <br /> <br />In what can be characterized as "dueling loggerheads," Senate Pro Tem Perata (D-Oakland) and <br />Senate Republican Leader Dave Cogdill (R-Fresno) exchanged statements on the budget on <br />Aug. 5. <br /> <br />Sen. Perata said that he thought the Governor's proposal for a temporary tax increase was "a <br />step in the right direction," while expressing his frustration that he believes the Republicans are <br />being too "narrow" in terms of budget compromise. The Republicans, said Perata, have not <br /> <br />2 <br />