Today, Assembly Republican Leader Chad Mayes delivered the following letter to Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon encouraging him to appoint a Republican member of the Assembly to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.
August 25, 2016
Honorable Anthony Rendon
Speaker of the Assembly
State Capitol Room 219
Sacramento, CA 95814
Dear Mr. Speaker,
During his closing statement on Assembly Bill 197, Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia encouraged Members “who have a desire to work on issues of climate change [to] ask our leadership [to] be part of” the Joint Legislative Committee the bill would create.
In light of this bipartisan offer, I am writing to request that I or another Republican Member of the Assembly be appointed to the Joint Legislative Committee on Climate Change Policies.
Californians from across the state have voiced their frustrations with the California Air Resources Board (CARB). We hear over and over that its policies are increasing the cost of gasoline, electricity, and things we buy at the grocery store for families throughout California. Unfortunately those complaints fall on CARB’s deaf ears.
While I believe that AB 197 does not go far enough to reign in the unelected bureaucrats at CARB, it is a step towards imposing accountability. That is a good thing. For the new committee’s oversight role to have any legitimacy, however, it needs to be more than a one-party rubber stamp for the Board’s edicts.
The climate change regulations crafted by CARB will impact people across the state. They deserve to have a voice in how those rules are made. We need to make sure climate change programs are fair, effective, and affordable for everyday Californians. That can only happen if everyone has a seat at the table.
Republicans believe that there should be a variety of perspectives on the Climate Change Policies Committee, and we look forward to adding our voice to the conversation.
Sincerely,
CHAD MAYES
Assembly Republican Leader
