SACRAMENTO--Another initiative entering the petition phase could impact California’s ‘go green’ campaign. It would suspend several air pollution control laws.

The initiative is tied to the state’s jobless rate. Proponents want to suspend state laws requiring reduced greenhouse gas emissions that cause global warming until California’s unemployment rate drops to 5.5 percent. The rate would have to remain no higher than that for a year.

Backers reason that the suspension of such regulations would benefit state and local government revenues and put more people to work.

The California Secretary of State has given proponents the okay to circulate their petitions in hopes of getting the issue on the statewide ballot. (INT)

Story Date: September 2, 2010