Sunday, September 05, 2004
Lawmaker comes up for air
Florez takes breather from spotlight of clean-air legislation.
By Jennifer M. Fitzenberger
Bee Capitol Bureau
(Updated Sunday, September 5, 2004, 6:41 AM)
SACRAMENTO -- Sen. Dean Florez was a clean-air maverick last year, taking the lead on five new laws that require farmers to help clean California's dirty air.
Florez, D-Shafter, was outspoken and bullheaded, landing big headlines and praise from leaders in the state's environmental community for ending agriculture's exemption from air operating permits and setting a schedule for phasing out open-air farm burning.
But this year -- the second in the two-year legislative session that ended in late August -- Florez avoided the clean-air spotlight. He went public with two bills to improve air quality, but both died without Florez vigorously defending them.
"Do I feel I need to be the marquee or can I be the second movie? I can be the second movie," Florez says. "As long as the policy gets done, no big deal."
Some political players say Florez worked hard behind the scenes to support other clean-air legislation and has evolved from a lawmaker who thrived on taking credit to one content to let others shine on an issue that has defined his Senate career.
Others are more critical, saying Florez took advantage of last year's more Democratic-friendly political climate to gain clout for a possible 2006 run for state treasurer.
"It was strictly statewide recognition to run for statewide office," Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers League in Fresno, says of Florez's motivation. "I am absolutely disappointed, and I just don't have any more trust."
Cunha says Florez had little to do with legislation this year that could provide millions of dollars for clean-air programs and allow farmers to continue accessing state funds to help switch and revamp their dirty diesel engines.
But environmental advocates say Florez was instrumental in pushing such bills through the Legislature. They say they depend on Florez for help, knowing he is a staunch supporter of cleaning the Valley's air.
"He hasn't been as much of a leader this year, but he's still showing concern about air quality in the Valley," says Bonnie Holmes-Gen, assistant vice president of government relations for the American Lung Association of California.
Carolina Simunovic, a member of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, says Florez hasn't abandoned his effort to reduce air pollution. She says he might be more subdued this year because he recognizes that other lawmakers also have expertise on air quality.
Says John White, representing the Sierra Club: "One of the things Dean is learning how to do is be a team player."
Florez has not decided whether he will run for treasurer in 2006. He says he will run for re-election if his work on air quality isn't finished.
The senator scoffs at the suggestion he took up the air quality issue to get attention.
"It's been a somewhat hostile environment -- given the air bills -- to go home. You have to argue why they're good bills," says Florez, who lives in agriculture-rich Kern County. "You don't really need to do that unless you really feel that it's important."
The political landscape this year is different because of Gov. Schwarzenegger's recall win over Gray Davis. Florez says he has chosen his bills more carefully.
"I don't know if I can go and ask the governor to sign all of these clean-air bills if ag opposes them," Florez says. He doubts Schwarzenegger would have signed last year's air bills.
Florez says he had a hand in advancing key air legislation this year.
He supported Assembly Bill 923 that could provide up to $90 million for clean-air programs. The bill, sent to the governor at the end of the session, also would allow farmers to use state funds to replace their diesel engines for at least a few more years.
Florez says he didn't push hard this year for some of his bills because other lawmakers had similar legislation.
One of those measures, AB 1009, would require trucks heavier than 10,000 pounds to meet federal emission standards for their model years. Assembly Member Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, introduced the bill in June after the U.S. Supreme Court opened the border to trucks and buses. It awaits the governor's signature.
Florez in June announced he would introduce a similar bill to hold foreign trucks to California emission standards, which are more strict than federal standards, and he held a hearing on the issue. But the bill never materialized because, Florez says, Democrats wanted Pavley to carry the bill.
Florez says he didn't push the issue because "there are other things that I want to do ... like my other bills."
The senator focused this year on measures to help make medical care affordable to people sickened by drifting pesticides and to discourage diesel fuel theft. The pesticide bill cleared the Legislature and is on Schwarzenegger's desk, but the fuel theft bill died in committee.
Florez's revived $5.2 billion clean-air bond measure -- his most high-profile air legislation this year -- also died. It would have provided money for asthma screening, biomass energy plants and alternative waste disposal methods such as wood-chipping. Florez hoped to get it on the 2006 ballot.
The bill, SB 403, ran into problems when lawmakers asked that a larger chunk of the bond proceeds go to urban interests, and Florez abandoned it after learning that Schwarzenegger wouldn't pledge his support.
Environmental and agricultural advocates back Florez's decision.
"The bond wasn't happening because of the fiscal condition of the state," White says.
Says Louie Brown, an agriculture lobbyist: "While the bond is a good idea in some respects, the time just isn't right. I don't think it has the political momentum to happen at this point."
Florez plans to bring the bond back next year.
By Jennifer M. Fitzenberger
Bee Capitol Bureau
(Updated Sunday, September 5, 2004, 6:41 AM)
SACRAMENTO -- Sen. Dean Florez was a clean-air maverick last year, taking the lead on five new laws that require farmers to help clean California's dirty air.
Florez, D-Shafter, was outspoken and bullheaded, landing big headlines and praise from leaders in the state's environmental community for ending agriculture's exemption from air operating permits and setting a schedule for phasing out open-air farm burning.
But this year -- the second in the two-year legislative session that ended in late August -- Florez avoided the clean-air spotlight. He went public with two bills to improve air quality, but both died without Florez vigorously defending them.
"Do I feel I need to be the marquee or can I be the second movie? I can be the second movie," Florez says. "As long as the policy gets done, no big deal."
Some political players say Florez worked hard behind the scenes to support other clean-air legislation and has evolved from a lawmaker who thrived on taking credit to one content to let others shine on an issue that has defined his Senate career.
Others are more critical, saying Florez took advantage of last year's more Democratic-friendly political climate to gain clout for a possible 2006 run for state treasurer.
"It was strictly statewide recognition to run for statewide office," Manuel Cunha, president of the Nisei Farmers League in Fresno, says of Florez's motivation. "I am absolutely disappointed, and I just don't have any more trust."
Cunha says Florez had little to do with legislation this year that could provide millions of dollars for clean-air programs and allow farmers to continue accessing state funds to help switch and revamp their dirty diesel engines.
But environmental advocates say Florez was instrumental in pushing such bills through the Legislature. They say they depend on Florez for help, knowing he is a staunch supporter of cleaning the Valley's air.
"He hasn't been as much of a leader this year, but he's still showing concern about air quality in the Valley," says Bonnie Holmes-Gen, assistant vice president of government relations for the American Lung Association of California.
Carolina Simunovic, a member of the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, says Florez hasn't abandoned his effort to reduce air pollution. She says he might be more subdued this year because he recognizes that other lawmakers also have expertise on air quality.
Says John White, representing the Sierra Club: "One of the things Dean is learning how to do is be a team player."
Florez has not decided whether he will run for treasurer in 2006. He says he will run for re-election if his work on air quality isn't finished.
The senator scoffs at the suggestion he took up the air quality issue to get attention.
"It's been a somewhat hostile environment -- given the air bills -- to go home. You have to argue why they're good bills," says Florez, who lives in agriculture-rich Kern County. "You don't really need to do that unless you really feel that it's important."
The political landscape this year is different because of Gov. Schwarzenegger's recall win over Gray Davis. Florez says he has chosen his bills more carefully.
"I don't know if I can go and ask the governor to sign all of these clean-air bills if ag opposes them," Florez says. He doubts Schwarzenegger would have signed last year's air bills.
Florez says he had a hand in advancing key air legislation this year.
He supported Assembly Bill 923 that could provide up to $90 million for clean-air programs. The bill, sent to the governor at the end of the session, also would allow farmers to use state funds to replace their diesel engines for at least a few more years.
Florez says he didn't push hard this year for some of his bills because other lawmakers had similar legislation.
One of those measures, AB 1009, would require trucks heavier than 10,000 pounds to meet federal emission standards for their model years. Assembly Member Fran Pavley, D-Agoura Hills, introduced the bill in June after the U.S. Supreme Court opened the border to trucks and buses. It awaits the governor's signature.
Florez in June announced he would introduce a similar bill to hold foreign trucks to California emission standards, which are more strict than federal standards, and he held a hearing on the issue. But the bill never materialized because, Florez says, Democrats wanted Pavley to carry the bill.
Florez says he didn't push the issue because "there are other things that I want to do ... like my other bills."
The senator focused this year on measures to help make medical care affordable to people sickened by drifting pesticides and to discourage diesel fuel theft. The pesticide bill cleared the Legislature and is on Schwarzenegger's desk, but the fuel theft bill died in committee.
Florez's revived $5.2 billion clean-air bond measure -- his most high-profile air legislation this year -- also died. It would have provided money for asthma screening, biomass energy plants and alternative waste disposal methods such as wood-chipping. Florez hoped to get it on the 2006 ballot.
The bill, SB 403, ran into problems when lawmakers asked that a larger chunk of the bond proceeds go to urban interests, and Florez abandoned it after learning that Schwarzenegger wouldn't pledge his support.
Environmental and agricultural advocates back Florez's decision.
"The bond wasn't happening because of the fiscal condition of the state," White says.
Says Louie Brown, an agriculture lobbyist: "While the bond is a good idea in some respects, the time just isn't right. I don't think it has the political momentum to happen at this point."
Florez plans to bring the bond back next year.
# posted by Senator Dean Florez @ 5:09 PM 
