The True Colors of a Green Action Hero

Frank Russo at California Progress Report is covering the subject of the Schwarzenegger administration's political interference into the business of the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and doing a most excellent job of it. This article is a great overview of the situation, but if you poke around (for example, here and here and here), there are other fine articles and transcripts of testimony.

The California Air Resources Board is comprised of scientists and other experts in the field of air quality, and up until now they've been independent and fairly free from political pressure. However while Schwarzenegger is posing for the media as the New Environmentalist, it looks like he's also working behind the scenes to undermine what is supposed to be good policy based on sound science.

The California Air Resource Board is charged with implementing the Global Warming Solutions Act (AB 32) which is meant to reduce greenhouse gases, and has been held up as landmark environmental legislation. Now that it's been approved, Schwarzenegger is still pushing hard for cap and trade. The CARB has said they will look at cap and trade as one of the options, but the governor's office seems to be pushing rather relentlessly because that is what his supporters in the business world prefer.

Schwarzenegger needs to let the board do their job without threats and undue political pressure, otherwise it will become obvious that he's all talk and no environmental action hero afterall.