SACRAMENTO (KNX) - Two major climate bills that could have reduced emissions and held oil companies accountable were killed by the California legislature.
SB 12, which would have ramped up the state’s target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, died in the Senate Appropriations Committee. The San Francisco Chronicle described the measure, which was opposed by oil and business groups, as “arguably the most aggressive climate bill proposed at the Capitol this year.”
Another killed bill, SB 556, would have made oil companies liable for the health problems of people who live close to drilling wells. This measure was also opposed by the oil industry.
These bills are among the hundreds that didn’t survive the legislature’s suspense file, a mysterious process where lawmakers decide — with no explanation — which bills will or won’t get a chance to move forward.
Twice annually, the Senate Appropriations Committee places any unpassed bill that’s expected to cost more than $50,000 into the suspense file. The Assembly does the same with any bill that will cost more than $150,000.
Those hundreds of backlogged bills are then voted on at once without any public debate.
Other shelved measures include expanded tax credits for low-income families, eliminating out-of-pocket health care costs for Covered California enrollees, and two bills to tackle homelessness.
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