The Speaker's Lead on Global Warming
One of Speaker Fabian Nunez' legacies will be AB 32 - a measure which imposed a cap on all greenhouse gas emissions, forcing California to cut pollutants by 25% by 2020.
Nunez has been lucky to lead on an issue that is growing in importance, and most importantly for a politician, growing in press coverage. The California move to lead the nation in environmental policy will be a key focus of Presidential contenders in 2008, and a February primary give a national stage to California's work on environmental protection.
But who is that woman in the background? I can't remember; and it seems the Speaker can't remember either.
Fran Pavley was the author of AB 32. Well, at least until the Speaker stepped in. She introduced the bill in December 2004 with co-authors Chan, Laird and Simitian. The bill had gone through three amendments and passed out of the Assembly adding Koretz and Chan as additional co-authors, still with the Speaker's authorship nowhere to be found. Finally, 18 months later, in April of 2006, the Speaker took over the legislation. It was clearly part of a deal to get it passed in exchange for pushing her into the background.
Pavley did the right thing to the bill passed with only a secondary concern about taking credit for the measure. But now the Speaker is flying around the world as a champion of environmental protection, while she is a termed-out member waiting for the chance to run against a member of Nunez' leadership team.
The Speaker owes Pavley, and should support her run for Senate. He has gained bucket-loads of media coverage and earned a legacy on the shoulders of this unassuming diligent and passionate legislator.
It reminds me of that old, demeaning saying: "behind every successful man is a good woman." Well, in this case, behind the Speaker is a former legislator who is waiting to find out if she will be left behind.
5 comments:
It is called the "Pavley Bill" for a reason. You can follow this Blog Link.javascript:void(0)
And how much do you want to bet that this glamour shot of Fran shows up on everyone's doorstep?
LINK
How can Democrats allow someone like Lloyd Levine run against an environmental champion like Pavely?
Despite what Left-of-818 says, everyone knows that Assemblywoman Pavley wrote this legislation. You go do a google search of Pavley and Global Warming and you find tens of thousands of hits.
Democrats need to step in and clear this race up. Why would you want to pit two good democrats against each other, especially when one (arguably the better democrat), is clearly going to win the race. Democrats should just take the million dollars that would be spent in stupid election and put that towards some good.
Maybe Pavley could agree to spend a million dollars on pollution credits if Levine would agree to get out of the race!
For the record, you do get tens of thousands of hits when you search Pavley and global warming, but try this out:
*Google Results*
Pavley AB 32 global warming: 13,200
Nunez AB 32 global warming: 32,900
There are some good articles about Pavley being the champion of climate change regulation, but I think it is offensive that Nunez and others are not putting her center stage, and I think the reason they are shoving her aside is because Lloyd Levine is still an Assemblymember and they have to support him.
Ah, the fun of Term Limits!
P.S. I think it is Stuart Waldman's fault. (I only say this because every time I use Waldman's name my hits double. I'm a whore!)
Fran Pavley had a 100% rating from CLCV every year she was in the legislature. Same with Shiela and Hayden before them. She is part of a legacy of strong activist liberals.
Levine was always somewhere in the middle of the pack on enviro issues, which is pretty embarassing for a member who wants to represent Santa Monica! He is an ok Valley legislator, but he isn't going to do well among Democrats in the most liberal district in the state.
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