Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Behind Newsom's Break with Democrats on Environmental ‘Trump Insurance’ Bill
gvw_calmatters
By CalMatters
Published 5 years ago on
September 17, 2019

Share

In a break with the Democratic-controlled Legislature, Gov. Gavin Newsom sided with farmers and water agencies Saturday by rejecting legislation aimed at blocking the Trump administration from rolling back endangered species protections.
Over Newsom’s objections, Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins pushed forward with votes on what is the most significant legislation she ever authored, the “Trump insurance” bill. Senate Bill 1 sought to lock in place clean water, air and labor law that existed on Jan. 19, 2017, the day before President Donald Trump took office.
The bill was set to expire in January 2025, when Trump would be scheduled to leave office after a second term.


By Dan Morain
CalMatters
Most importantly, Atkins’ bill would have locked in the protections of the federal Endangered Species Act. Trump is seeking to roll back endangered species protections and increase water deliveries from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta to Central Valley farmers.

Access to ‘Best Available Science’ at Issue

In a statement, Newsom said he supports the “principles behind Senate Bill 1: to defeat efforts by the President and Congress to undermine vital federal protections that protect clean air, clean water and endangered species.
“Senate Bill 1 does not, however, provide the state with any new authority to push back against the Trump Administration’s environmental policies and it limits the state’s ability to rely upon the best available science to protect our environment.”

Newsom Veto Expected

Newsom’s statement signals that he will veto the bill if it reaches him. Although the bill won final legislative approval, Atkins had not taken the formal step of sending the bill to Newsom on Saturday night.

“Senate Bill 1 does not, however, provide the state with any new authority to push back against the Trump Administration’s environmental policies and it limits the state’s ability to rely upon the best available science to protect our environment.” — Gov. Gavin Newsom
Update: Atkins responded with a statement: “SB 1 is the product of a full year’s worth of work, so clearly I am strongly disappointed on its impending fate.”
While calling Newsom a “partner,” Atkins disputed his interpretation of the legislation, saying: “SB 1 also clearly states that state agencies shall make determinations based on the best scientific information available.”
The measure was opposed by major farm groups, the Westlands Water District, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, manufacturers, oil companies and the California Chamber of Commerce.
Many of Newsom’s allies, including environmentalists, most of organized labor and Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti supported it.

Amendments Did Not Satisfy Opponents

Atkins had amended the bill several times in an effort to neutralize opposition and reportedly was uncertain whether to press ahead with the legislation as late as Friday, the last day of the Legislature’s 2019 session. But after gaining passage with a 48-22 margin in the Assembly and meeting with environmentalists into the early morning hours on Saturday, she opted to put it to a final vote in the Senate knowing that Newsom was opposed.
The Senate approved it 26-14 after midnight Saturday.
“She believes this is a really good bill. She believes in the substance of the bill,” said Kim Delfino, California Director of Defenders of Wildlife, who was among the group that met with Atkins before the vote. “She hoped the governor would believe in her.”
On Saturday, Defino said Newsom “missed an opportunity” by signaling his opposition. “SB 1 gave him stronger tools to fight the rollback of environmental protections,” Delfino said.

Voluntary Water Agreements at Risk

Newsom administration officials, water contractors, farmers and environmentalists have been meeting to find solutions to the state’s forever battles over water. Water contractors had threatened to walk away from that voluntary process if Senate Bill 1 became law.
Newsom called Atkins “an extraordinary leader on the environment and for our state at large,” and said he looks forward to a “continued partnership” with her to “ensure California can continue to protect our environment and our workers against federal rollbacks, and push back against Trump’s anti-environment agenda.”
CalMatters.orgis a nonprofit, nonpartisan media venture explaining California policies and politics.

DON'T MISS

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

DON'T MISS

Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack on Himself Is Overturned

DON'T MISS

Fresno Council Lowers Speed Limits on Friant and Audubon

DON'T MISS

How About an Honest Conversation About the Range of Light Monument Proposal?

DON'T MISS

UConn Coach Geno Auriemma Breaks NCAA Wins Record With 1,217th Victory

DON'T MISS

Fresno Doctors Will Pay $2.4 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations, DOJ Says

DON'T MISS

Warriors Guard De’Anthony Melton to Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

DON'T MISS

Massive Ground Beef Recall Affects Restaurants Nationwide, USDA Warns

DON'T MISS

Chris Stapleton Wins 4 CMA Awards, but Morgan Wallen Is Entertainer of the Year

DON'T MISS

These Fresno Schools Are Unsafe and in Bad Condition. And No One Is Complaining

UP NEXT

Major Storm Drops Record Rain, Downs Trees in Northern California After Devastation Further North

UP NEXT

Police Report Reveals Assault Allegations Against Hegseth, Trump’s Pick for Defense Secretary

UP NEXT

Gaetz Withdraws as Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

UP NEXT

Newsom Heads to Fresno, a County That Voted for Trump

UP NEXT

Conservative Professors and Students Are Beating CA Community Colleges in Court

UP NEXT

‘Woke’ Terminology Not Commonly Used by Americans: YouGov Survey

UP NEXT

Thousands of University of California Workers Go on 2-Day Strike Over Wages, Staff Shortages

UP NEXT

Republicans on House Ethics Reject for Now Releasing Report on Matt Gaetz

UP NEXT

Senate to Vote on Sanders’ Resolution to Block Arms Sales to Israel

UP NEXT

Texas Offers Trump Land on US-Mexico Border for Potential Mass Deportations

How About an Honest Conversation About the Range of Light Monument Proposal?

2 hours ago

UConn Coach Geno Auriemma Breaks NCAA Wins Record With 1,217th Victory

2 hours ago

Fresno Doctors Will Pay $2.4 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations, DOJ Says

2 hours ago

Warriors Guard De’Anthony Melton to Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

2 hours ago

Massive Ground Beef Recall Affects Restaurants Nationwide, USDA Warns

2 hours ago

Chris Stapleton Wins 4 CMA Awards, but Morgan Wallen Is Entertainer of the Year

2 hours ago

These Fresno Schools Are Unsafe and in Bad Condition. And No One Is Complaining

3 hours ago

Putin Says Russia Has Tested a New Intermediate Range Missile in a Strike on Ukraine

3 hours ago

SEC Chair Gary Gensler, Who Led US Crackdown on Cryptocurrencies, to Step Down

3 hours ago

Is Fresno Mobile Home Park Controversy Over? Tenants Applaud Federal Judge’s Ruling

3 hours ago

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local ...

15 minutes ago

15 minutes ago

Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say

19 minutes ago

Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack on Himself Is Overturned

Fresno motorcycle cop enforces the 45 mph speed limit
23 minutes ago

Fresno Council Lowers Speed Limits on Friant and Audubon

2 hours ago

How About an Honest Conversation About the Range of Light Monument Proposal?

2 hours ago

UConn Coach Geno Auriemma Breaks NCAA Wins Record With 1,217th Victory

2 hours ago

Fresno Doctors Will Pay $2.4 Million to Settle Kickback Allegations, DOJ Says

2 hours ago

Warriors Guard De’Anthony Melton to Undergo Season-Ending Knee Surgery

2 hours ago

Massive Ground Beef Recall Affects Restaurants Nationwide, USDA Warns

Help continue the work that gets you the news that matters most.

Search

Send this to a friend