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Pulling back the curtains on wage-theft enforcement in MN; Trump's latest attack is on RFK, Jr; NM LGBTQ+ equality group endorses 2024 'Rock Star' candidates; Michigan's youth justice reforms: Expanded diversion, no fees.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina s congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

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Historic wildfires could create housing and health issues for rural Texans, a Kentucky program helps prison parolees start a new life, and descendants of Nicodemus, Kansas celebrate the Black settlers who journeyed across the 1870s plains seeking self-governance.

Groups Praise CA Bill to Defend Against Federal Environmental Rollbacks

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Thursday, December 6, 2018   

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – California's first state Senate bill of the new session – SB 1 – is an effort to combat the Trump administration's environmental rollbacks by requiring state rules to be at least as strict as those in place before January 2017, when President Barack Obama left office.

The current administration has already repealed dozens of environmental rules, including protections for wetlands and smaller streams, and regulating the release of greenhouse gases from oil and gas wells on federal land.

Kim Delfino, California program director for Defenders of Wildlife, says California can't just stand by when Congress or federal agencies cave to special interests.

"This bill was introduced to provide a backstop within state law, so that if further weakening occurs that we can continue to rely on the fact that we will have clean air, clean water and protections for endangered species in California," she states.

Other federal rollbacks under discussion would weaken car emission standards that reduce air pollution, sonic testing rules meant to help marine mammals and habitat conservation measures.

President Donald Trump maintains environmental controls are excessive, strangle commercial activity and cost jobs.

The administration has also looked at weakening protections for fish such as salmon and smelt in order to bring more water to farmers.

Delfino stresses the state can't afford to lose important species.

"And this would direct our state Fish and Wildlife Commission to evaluate all of those species that are currently on the federal endangered species list, for inclusion on our state endangered species list," she states.

That requirement would kick in only if the federal government tries to remove species' protections.

A similar bill, which stalled during the last legislative session, was opposed by oil companies, the California Chamber of Commerce, the California Farm Bureau and the Western State Petroleum Association.


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