The California Assembly passed AB1991 by a vote of 45 to 19 at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday. The bill needed 41 votes to pass, reports Julia Scott in the County Times. Assembly Republicans, who are in the minority, played a key role in pushing the bill out of the body. It faces an entirely new committee process in the Senate.
It took a while for members to come around to supporting the controversial legislation, or so it appeared. The first vote, in the early afternoon, was 19 yes to 12 no, with hardly any members voting even though the chambers were full. Mullin held the bill for a second vote later in the afternoon, which also failed with 35 yes and 15 no.
The objections from environmental groups caused Democrats on each committee that heard the bill to pause and some to vote against it, although Republicans came out strongly in its favor.
Mullin was counting on Republican support to pass AB1991, and the Republicans decided to withhold their votes for most of the day in a sort of political game to force the hand of some Democrats uncomfortable with supporting it, said Sara Ramirez, chief of staff in Mullin’s office.
“Before we went to the floor, we had support from the Republican caucus. They wanted some Democrats to sweat it out. I think they just found a bill they had control over,” she said.
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The bill will likely pass through three Senate committees before heading to the floor, where it needs to receive a vote by Aug. 31 to meet the deadlines outlined in the agreement. If the bill fails, the city will owe Keenan $18 million plus 6 percent interest per year.
AB 1991 - Round 2 In Senate. Read first time.
To Rules Committee for assignment. June 2 Committee meetings may resume
Rules Committee JURISDICTION: Proposed amendments to the rules and other matters relating to the business of the Legislature. Members: Senator Don Perata (Chair)
Senator Jim Battin (Vice-Chair)
Senator Gilbert Cedillo
Senator Robert Dutton Senator Alex Padilla
Since as AB 1991 states: “The bill would exempt the specified property and certain development thereof from (a) certain requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act; (b) permit requirements under the California Coastal Act; (c) the Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act; (d) certain permit requirements relating to state highways; and (e) certain requirements relating to fish and game.”
Should go to: SEN NATURAL RESOURCES AND WATER w/o regard to title since the true subject matter should govern. Committee on Natural Resources and Water JURISDICTION: Bills relating to conservation and management of public resources, fish and wildlife, regulation of oil, mining, geothermal development, acid deposition, wetlands and lakes, global atmospheric effects, ocean and bay pollution, forestry practices, recreation, parks and historical resources and beverage container recycling. Members: Senator Darrell Steinberg (Chair) Senator Dennis Hollingsworth (Vice Chair) Senator Dave Cogdill Senator Christine Kehoe Senator Sheila Kuehl Senator Michael Machado Senator Bob Margett Senator Carole Migden
Committee on Environmental Quality - JURISDICTION: Bills relating to environmental quality, air quality, water quality, integrated waste management, toxics, and hazardous waste. Members: Senator Joe Simitian (Chair) Senator George Runner (Vice Chair) Senator Samuel Aanestad Senator Ellen Corbett Senator Dean Florez Senator Sheila Kuehl Senator Alan Lowenthal
Probably will go to Committee on Local Government: JURISDICTION: Bills relating to local governmental procedure and organization. Bills relating to land use. Bills that have been considered by other committees having jurisdiction of the appropriate subject, for consideration of any questions relating to local government administration. Members: Senator Gloria Negrete McLeod (Chair) Senator Dave Cox (Vice Chair) Senator Tom Harman Senator Christine Kehoe Senator Michael Machado
Ken Johnson