Schwarzenegger ready to sign bill limiting greenhouse gas emissions

0 Comments | AFP, September, 2006

LOS ANGELES (AFP) — California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was set to sign a historic bill to cap greenhouse gas emissions after it cleared the state legislature, making California the first US state to limit carbon dioxide and other gases accused of contributing to global warming. The state Assembly passed the measure in a 46-31 vote late Thursday.

The state Senate had given its 23-14 approval in a vote a day earlier. The measure was the result of a deal between Schwarzenegger and Democratic lawmakers -- in the Senate, all 23 votes in favor were from Democrats; the 14 opposed were all Republicans, since the governor's fellow Republicans argued it would hurt business throughout the state. California is the world's 12th-largest emitter of carbon, "despite leading the...