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California's state budget is now six weeks overdue, held up by 14 Republican senators with a list of last-minute demands to cut state programs and roll back one of California's bedrock environmental laws.

Senate Republicans want to change the 30-year-old California Environmental Quality Act in order to eliminate requirements to reduce greenhouse gases that cause global warming. The rollback would be a huge gift to real-estate developers and the oil and gas industry.

Fortunately, Senate President Don Perata and the Democratic majority in the State Senate have announced that they will resist the Republican attack on California's efforts to fight global warming. Senator Perata said this last week in a statement about the Republican proposal:

"Basically, it would return the state to the days when Los Angeles was the smog capital of California, and cancel protections to prevent oil spills and toxic emissions at refineries, keep our waterways and ocean safe and stop developers from tearing up open space to promote sprawl and congestion."

Senator Perata said Democrats would not accept such a rollback.

"Today, I removed any doubt or ambiguity about my position or that of [the Democratic] caucus. We will not bargain away California's environment to oil refiners or multi-state developers."

This is great news for the state of California! But the fight isn't over yet, because Senate Republicans continue to hold the budget hostage.

It is critical that we let Democrats in the Senate know that we appreciate their commitment to California's fight against global warming.

Please call or send a note this week to thank Senator Perata and the Democrats in the Senate. You can also send an email via our automatic system, but senators pay greatest attention to phone calls and personal letters via mail or email.

Senator Don Perata, Senate President Pro-Tem
State Capitol
Room 205
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 651-4009

Look up your California state senator's contact information.