EDF Responds to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Expected Veto of California Environmental Legislation

(SAN FRANCISCO, CA – Sept. 16, 2019) Gov. Gavin Newsom has indicated he will veto Senate Bill 1, the California Environmental, Public Health and Workers Defense Act, authored by Sen. Toni Atkins.

“We commend the Governor’s track record of defending public health, social justice and the environment in the face of Trump rollbacks of longstanding protections. We disagree with his reasoning that vetoing SB1 is necessary to make progress in the negotiations with stakeholders, including Environmental Defense Fund, on a solution to the decades-old impasse over how best to manage the water and wildlife of the Bay-Delta.

“To us, the Bay-Delta voluntary agreement negotiations are about working together to find more innovative, cooperative ways of meeting the needs of both the environment and other water users. In their push for a veto of SB1, water agencies have undermined our confidence that they are negotiating in good faith in the voluntary agreement process.

“For now EDF will continue to participate in Bay-Delta voluntary agreement negotiations. We will be looking for real evidence that water agencies are committed to improving fragile ecosystems and rural economies. This means adding more water, habitat restoration and funding to the current proposal to realize a resilient water system that delivers for our economy and our environment.”

• David Festa, Senior Vice President, Environmental Defense Fund