🚀 go-pugleaf

Hello!

This is an extremely important message for everybody living in California
and for all those who want to help Californians keep their water
unpolluted.  PLEASE READ! (sorry for yelling). 

About two weeks ago, a horrible bill (SB 649) SPONSORED BY THE OIL
INDUSTRY passed both houses of the California legislature which REMOVES
MANY OF THE PENALTIES AND LIABILITIES assessed corporations (such as oil
companies) and firms THAT POLLUTE CALIFORNIA'S WATER RESOURCES due to oil
spills and similar mishaps in California.  This bill is OPPOSED by the
California Dept of Fish and Game, the District Attorney's Association of
California, the Sierra Club, the Leaque of Women Voters, Common Cause, and
others.  In addition, many papers have written editorials urging Gov. 
Pete Wilson to veto it. 

IT IS NOW SITTING ON GOV. PETE WILSON'S DESK. HE HAS UNTIL MONDAY TO
EITHER VETO IT OR SIGN IT.  His press spokesperson has said Wilson hasn't
decided yet to veto it or sign it so it's extremely important for all
those living in California (and those who want to help California keep
their water unpolluted) to contact the Governor's office AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE for the decision could be made anytime. 

THE PHONE NUMBER TO GOV. WILSON'S OFFICE IS: (916) 658 2793

THE BILL IS:	SB 649  (ASK HIM TO VETO IT)

YOU CAN CALL ANYTIME (DAY OR NIGHT, WEEKDAY OR WEEKENDS) and leave a
message (his office reviews all calls during the day so don't worry, your
message will be heard by his office).  Don't say anything bad about the
governor or any decisions he's made that you disagree with or else this
may just cause him to sign this horrible bill.  YOUR CALL JUST MIGHT MAKE
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM SIGNING IT AND HIM VETOING IT SO DON'T DELAY
AND PLEEEESE CALL RIGHT THIS MINUTE!!!

The Sacramento Bee wrote a nice editorial urging Wilson to veto it.  I
don't have the editorial but I have an article they wrote on it that i
will now print.  Here it is: 

---------

Sacramento Bee, September 13, 1996, pg. A4 by Brad Hayward

--------

Title: OIL-SPILL BILL TAINTED BY DONATIONS, FOES CHARGE

   Environmental and public-interest groups, suggesting that California
lawmakers have been bought by the oil industry, on Thursday urged Gov. 
Pete Wilson to veto SB 649, legislation that would make it tougher for
prosecutors to win some criminal cases against water polluters. 
   The groups released a study of campaign finances showing that since
1990, oil companies have contributed $4 million to California legislators,
nearly $400,000 of it in the first six months of this year.
   Those contributions, coupled with the industry's expenditures on
lobbying, "laid the foundation" for passage of SB 649, said Ruth Holton of
California Common Cause, who was joined at the Capitol news conference by
representatives of the Sierra Club, Consumers Union and the Leaque of
Women Voters.
   "Money appears to be dominating lawmaking more blatantly than ever,"
Holton said.
   Under the bill, firms spilling a harmful material - such as oil or
poisonous chemicals - could escape criminal prosecution if they promptly
reported the spill.  
   Wilson spokesman Sean Walsh said the governor has not yet taken a
position on the bill.
   Opponents to SB 649, including the California Department of Fish and
Game, say it would gut key protections for the state's water and wildlife.
   "This is a question of whether people have clean water to drink in
California," said Harry Snyder of Consumers Union.  "Without money
contributions from the oil industry, this bill would never have reached
the governor's desk." 

----------------

Now do yourself and all Californians a favor and call Wilson's office
right now at (916) 658 2793 and tell him to veto SB 649.  Don't regret not
making that call and finding out this horrible bill became a law (thus
threatening the water supply of all Californians) because you didn't make
that call.  Thanks! 

Bill