SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown says he’ll need Republicans’ help to renew California’s cap-and-trade program, a key piece of his legacy.
The program caps the state’s carbon emissions and requires polluters to obtain permits before releasing climate-changing gases. It will expire in 2020 if lawmakers don’t reauthorize it. Brown is pushing for a vote this year.
He asked the California Chamber of Commerce on Thursday to help bring Republicans on board.
Brown is pushing for a two-thirds vote to renew the law in order to prevent lawsuits. Democrats hold legislative supermajorities, but some Democrats want the law to go further in regulating emissions. Brown’s comments indicate he may be opting for a more centrist approach.
Brown’s remarks come a day before he heads to China to promote climate-reduction policies.
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