The Left wants to guarantee clean air and water—and put that in the Constitution. Actually, we already have lots of laws on this subject. But by putting this in the Constitution it mandates lawsuits, closed businesses, lost jobs and the expansion of the Doom Loop.
“The author of the proposal, Democratic Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, said at a news conference on Monday that the constitutional amendment would provide a stronger foundation for California’s environmental efforts. Among those efforts is the state’s push to phase out its use of oil and gas within the next two decades.
Supporters noted that low-income, Black and Brown communities are disproportionately impacted by poor environmental management.
Can we get 100% agreement on the definition of “clean”? Without that any whacko can claim the water or air is dirty so businesses need to be closed, jobs lost and billions spent trying to find the end of the rainbow.
California considers adding right to clean air, water to state’s constitution
Ashley Zavala, KCRA, 4/8/24 https://www.kcra.com/article/california-right-clean-air-water-state-constitution/60434423
SACRAMENTO, Calif. —
California lawmakers this year could ask voters to add an amendment to the state’s constitution that would guarantee the right to clean air, water and a healthy environment.
The author of the proposal, Democratic Assemblyman Isaac Bryan, said at a news conference on Monday that the constitutional amendment would provide a stronger foundation for California’s environmental efforts. Among those efforts is the state’s push to phase out its use of oil and gas within the next two decades.
Supporters noted that low-income, Black and Brown communities are disproportionately impacted by poor environmental management.
Legislative documents show several other states have implemented “Green Amendments,” some dating back as far as the ’70s, including Pennsylvania and Montana. Other states including Washington, Kentucky, West Virginia, Vermont, Arizona, New Jersey, Hawaii and Connecticut, are also considering similar measures.
“In California, we beat our chest about being climate champions; we do it nationally, we do it globally, but we are behind other states,” Bryan said. “Our people do not have a fundamental right to clean air, clean water and a healthy environment. We can change that, and we’re going to change that.”
Opponents of the measure include the California Chamber of Commerce, which considers the measure a “job killer.” The chamber has said it has “far-reaching negative consequences that would impair government operations, stunt development for new housing, infrastructure and clean energy project development and has strong potential to destabilize California’s economy.”
It wasn’t clear on Monday how much the measure could cost the state. The measure was poised to pass the Assembly’s Natural Resources Committee Monday night.
