Posted by
BLOGASSAULT on Monday, May 25, 2009 11:17:54 AM
This is what happened in Washingtin state, where Govenor Chris Gregoire wanted a cap and trade program but was denied by the legislature. So, she whips out the old executive order program and forces emission cuts.
Reporting from Seattle -- Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire sidestepped her Legislature's refusal to adopt a cap-and-trade program to limit greenhouse gases, signing an executive order Thursday to achieve similar reductions by ratcheting back coal-fired electricity and automobile emissions.
"I wanted cap-and-trade. I didn't get it," said Gregoire, a Democrat, whose order directs government agencies to expand public transit and other programs to meet auto emissions goals, and to reach agreement with the state's only coal-fired power plant to reduce its carbon output at least 50% by 2025.
The
order also calls for development of an even wider-ranging set of emission reduction strategies to achieve across-the-board greenhouse gas targets by 2020, and sets the stage for working with California and Oregon to implement a West Coast "electric highway" accessible to electric and alternative-fuel vehicles.
What's happened to the will of the people? Govenors and Presidents are to eager these days to use the executive order to get what they want. Just as a side note, the govenors website listing all the executive orders is either
not functioning or has been abandoned.