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Patrick O’Donnell

Posted on by clcv

Patrick O'Donnell

Assemblymember — CA 70

Democrat Representing Long Beach

Assemblymember Patrick O’Donnell not only supported rollbacks and suspensions of important air quality and climate regulations but even led legislative sign-on letters to encourage other legislators to join him in supporting reckless environmental rollbacks.

The Port of Long Beach continues to be a major source of air pollution, but the positions Assemblymember O’Donnell has taken and the Legislation he has led seek to weaken air quality regulations and do not represent the urgent need to move quicker to provide clean and healthy air to residents and to address the climate crisis.

Air Quality & Climate Protection

Signed onto a letter in support of efforts to postpone the adoption of all current and proposed regulations which provide critical air quality and climate protections by regulating emissions from diesel trucks, trains, and ships until 2021.

Signed onto a letter in support of postponing the adoption of the Vessels At-Berth rule which requires emission reductions from California ports by requiring ships to plug into electric power instead of idling diesel engines, a major source of pollution in communities near ports.

In 2018, opposed SB 64 which would have required the reporting of emissions associated with startups, shutdowns and cycling of electrical generating facilities.

In 2016, refused to support AB 197 the Climate Equity and Transparency Act, which included reforms that ensure the benefits of climate pollution reduction reach the communities most directly affected and give the Legislature greater oversight responsibility when implementing these climate policies.

In 2016, refused to support SB 32 which continued California’s 2006 Global Warming Solutions Act by setting a new target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030.

Health & Environmental Protections

In 2019, refused to support SB 1 which would have defended California from the Trump Administration’s attempts to rollback or weaken workplace safety laws and environmental laws.

In 2018, opposed AB 2447 which would have created a meaningful process to notify the public of potential adverse health impacts for industrial projects.

Oil, Gas & Transportation

Opposed AB 345, an active bill, which will require regulations to protect public health and safety near oil and gas extraction facilities by establishing a minimum setback distance between oil and gas activities and sensitive places such as schools, childcare facilities, playgrounds, residences, hospitals, and health clinics.

Refused to support AB 3214, an active bill which will update fines, which have not been updated for inflation since the 1980s, for companies that knowingly do not take action that could have avoided an oil spill.

In 2019, refused to support AB 1057 which increased the amount of financial security oil companies must provide to ensure that taxpayers are not on the hook for the cost of clean up for retired or abandoned oil and gas wells.

In 2018, refused to support AB 1775 and SB 834, two bills which protected California’s coast from offshore oil drilling by prohibiting new leases for new construction of oil drilling within state waters.

In 2018, opposed AB 3146 which would have required oil well operators to regularly test for emissions of harmful hydrocarbon air pollutants in wells close to homes, and requires the state to similarly test hazardous or idle wells.

In 2016, refused to support SB 1441 which would have prevented California utilities from collecting money from ratepayers for natural gas utilities leak, either accidentally or intentionally.

Water, Land & Parks

Refused to support AB 3030, an active bill, that supports national and international conservation efforts by setting a state target of conserving 30 percent of land, waters, and ocean by 2030 (the 30 by 30 movement).

Refused to support AB 2954, an active bill, which will establish an overall climate goal for the state’s natural and working lands to sequester carbon and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2019, refused to support SB 200 which established the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund which will help the one million Californians who have toxic drinking water access clean and affordable drinking water.

In 2019, refused to support SB 1 which would have defended California from the Trump Administration’s attempts to rollback or environmental laws such as the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and workplace safety laws.

In 2019, opposed SB 307 which restored science-based decision-making to stop an environmentally disastrous project, the Cadiz Water Project, which would have pumped 16 billion gallons of water a year from a fragile desert aquifer in the Mojave desert.

In 2016, refused to support SB 1386 which made it state policy that protecting and managing natural and working lands is important to meeting California’s climate-change goals, and directed all relevant state agencies to consider this policy when conducting their work.

In 2016, refused to support SB 1263 which gave the State Water Resources Control Board a stronger role in ensuring public water systems are not approved if they are unnecessary, ensuring that small, public water agencies are able to provide long-term delivery of safe, clean drinking water.

Campaign Finance

Asm. Patrick O’Donnell has accepted oil industry contributions and consistently sides with the oil industry when voting.

Tell Patrick O’Donnell:

I OPPOSE efforts in the legislature to roll back critical environmental and health protections. We are in a public health crisis. I demand that our elected leaders protect our air, our water, our climate and our communities."