The Californer - Governor Newsom on illegal House effort to curb California's tools for cleaning the air: 'Making California smoggy again'

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~ SACRAMENTO - In a recent House vote, Republicans have attempted to repeal California's Clean Air Act waivers, which authorize the state's clean cars and trucks program. This move has been met with strong opposition from Governor Gavin Newsom, who has called it an illegal tactic and accused the Republicans of trying to make California "smoggy again."

The Republican-controlled House used the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to try and overrule California's clean vehicles program, defying decades of precedent. This action goes against the rulings of both the non-partisan Government Accountability Office and Senate Parliamentarian, who have stated that the CRA does not apply to these waivers.

Governor Newsom has strongly condemned this move by the House, stating that it is driven by big polluters and right-wing propaganda. He also pointed out that clean air used to be a non-partisan issue and credited former Republican governors Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon for establishing California's authority to clean its air.

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The state's efforts to reduce pollution have been ongoing since Reagan established the California Air Resources Board. The Clean Air Act waivers date back to the Nixon Administration, allowing California to set standards necessary for cleaning up some of the worst air pollution in the country.

Under Governor Newsom's leadership, California has continued its climate leadership by reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% since 2000 while also experiencing a 78% increase in GDP. The state has also set records for clean energy usage, with last year seeing 51 days where the grid ran on 100% clean energy for some period two out of every three days. Additionally, battery storage has increased by over 1,600%.

California has been granted more than 100 waivers for its clean air and climate efforts since the adoption of the Clean Air Act in 1970. These waivers do not expire or have a process for revocation because they provide market certainty for governments and industry to develop clean vehicles and air plans.

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While California's standards have significantly improved air quality, the state's unique geography means that continued progress on vehicle emissions is necessary. Five of the ten cities with the worst air pollution in the country are in California, and ten million Californians currently live under "severe nonattainment" conditions for ozone. This has led to high rates of asthma and cardiopulmonary disease in these areas, making zero-emission vehicles a critical part of the plan to protect Californians.

In other news, Governor Newsom has proclaimed April 30, 2025, as "Apprenticeship Day" and announced the launch of a new AI tool to speed up the approval of building permits and aid in recovery efforts from recent fires in Los Angeles. The state has also allocated $118.9 million in federal funding for 29 rural and tribal communities to create more affordable housing and supportive services. These actions demonstrate California's commitment to addressing important issues such as clean air, economic growth, and affordable housing for its residents.

Filed Under: Government, State

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