Democrats in both houses of the Legislature voted April 27 to reject proposals to save the state $2 million to $3 million a year by abolishing the California Integrated Waste Management Board and transferring its duties to other state agencies.
The Senate Environmental Quality Committee rejected SB 44 (Denham) on a party-line vote, with all five Democrats opposed and two Republicans in support. The Assembly Natural Resources Committee scuttled AB 1150 (Gaines), with four Democrats opposed, three Republicans in support, and two Democrats not voting.
The bills would have done away with board members' $132,178-a-year jobs – positions that often are filled by former lawmakers who have been termed out of office or defeated at the polls. In recent months, former Democratic lawmakers Carole Migden, Sheila Kuehl and John Laird have been appointed by the governor (in Ms. Migden's case) and legislative leaders.
Opponents said abolishing the board and transferring its duties would make oversight of the state's recycling program and other anti-waste efforts less transparent, and would make overseers less accountable to the public.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who supported both bills, issued a statement criticizing the committees. He said: "With virtually every California family and business cutting back in this economy, state government must also become more efficient. This reorganization would have saved Californians between $2 million to $3 million a year, and I commend Senator Denham and Assemblyman Gaines for carrying these bills and am disappointed that they were not voted out of committee today. A vote against this is a vote against a streamlined, more cost-effective and more efficient manner of running government and meeting our environmental goals."
He added: "Whether it's this proposal, or my proposal to reorganize the state's information technology systems or strengthen our state's energy functions, I will continue my push to make government more efficient and effective for the people of California."
Republican Senator Jeff Denham told The Sacramento Bee, "In the midst of a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, if the Legislature can't even make this – the easiest of cuts – it's going to be a long summer."
Because the waste board uses special funds, the legislation would not have a direct impact on the general fund. However, eliminating three highly paid positions and a level of bureaucracy would lead to an overall savings within government.
Opponents of the bills included the California Association of Professional Scientists, California Refuse Removal Council, Republic Services Inc., Safety-Kleen System Inc., Sierra Club California and Waste Management Inc.
Cal-TaxReports, May 4, 2009
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