Keep the Green Team in Sacramento

December 2007

by Assemblymember John Laird

This February 5, you’ll have a chance to decide more than the presidential primary, you’ll also get to build momentum in the fight to address climate change by keeping in place the California Legislature’s green team —the team of legislators that delivered AB 32, the historic Global Warming Solutions Act.

Proposition 93, the Term Limits Reform Act, will enable legislators to focus on the critical, long-term issues of our time, rather than short-term career plans. The measure would allow legislators to serve up to 12 years in either the Assembly or the Senate. While this represents a reduction of two years in the total number of years a legislator could spend in Sacramento, it enables all 12 to be served in one house.

In my case, this would mean I would have the opportunity to run for three additional two-year terms, rather than being termed out of office a year from now. Besides allowing me to gratefully continue to serve in a job I truly love, my colleagues and I would have the opportunity to leverage our experience and relationships in the race to stop global warming. Also, I would have a chance to work on the next generation of my state-wide legislative efforts on water conservation and coastal protection, as well as parks acquisition and management.

Approving Prop 93 will be a critical step forward for California’s environmental community. I’m pleased the Sierra Club has endorsed the measure, along with the California League of Conservation Voters, the Planning and Conservation League and others. To get involved, visit www.termlimitsreform.com.

Assemblymember Laird represents the 27th Assembly District, is chair of the Budget Committee and serves as a member of the Natural Resources Committee.

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