Yes on SB 270 Coalition Thanks Governor Jerry Brown for Making History

The Yes on SB 270 Coalition cheered Gov. Jerry Brown’s historic signing of a bill that makes California the first state to ban single-use plastic carryout bags.

“History was made today, and our environment and economy will be better for it,” said Ronald Fong, President and CEO, California Grocers Association. “SB 270 will foster innovation, create operational consistency, California green jobs, and protect our precious natural resources. We are grateful to Sens. Padilla, de León and Lara for bravely standing up for California.”

SB 270 (Padilla, de León, Lara) has been supported by dozens of groups representing a spectrum of sectors, including environment, organized labor, business organizations, grocers, retailers, poverty rights organizations, Latino leaders, waste management firms, local governments and others.

More than 100 cities and counties in California, including our largest metropolitan areas, have enacted bans on single-use carryout plastic bags. SB 270 will bring uniformity to California, while further reducing the use of plastic bags that litter streets, clog waterways, endanger animals and natural resources and cost taxpayers.

Gov. Brown’s Official Press Release »

Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown, during Thursday night’s gubernatorial debate with Republican rival Neel Kashkari, said he plans to sign a law that would make California the first state to impose a statewide ban on single-use plastic bags.

“I probably will sign it, yes,” Brown said during the televised debate. “ In fact, I’ll tell you why I’m going to sign it …. There are about 50 cities with their own plastic bag ban, and that’s causing a lot of confusion.’’

Brown said that grocers supported a reasonable ban, implying they welcomed a more consistent statewide policy.

“This is a compromise,” Brown said. “It’s taking into account the needs of the environment, and the needs of the economy and the needs of the grocers.”

Kashkari responded that “no chance would I sign” the plastic bag ban if he were governor.

Kashkari, a former assistant U.S. Treasury secretary who oversaw the federal bank bailout, then criticized other bills passed by the Legislature this year, including measures limiting high school football practices and legislation permitting dogs at outdoor restaurants.
“What they’re not working on is rebuilding the middle class,” Kashkari said.

California lawmakers last week approved legislation banning plastic bags, such as those available to customers in supermarkets, convenience stores and pharmacies. Supporters argued the ban would reduce litter on beaches and streets as well as garbage being dumped at landfills.

The hotly contested bill, strongly supported by environmentalists, would allow stores to charge customers 10 cents for paper or reusable plastic bags as an alternative. Similar bans are already in place in more than 100 California cities and counties, including Los Angeles County and San Francisco. Those regulations would remain intact.

Once signed by the governor, the ban on plastic bags would kick in for grocery stores and pharmacies on July 1, 2015, and extend to convenience stores and liquor stores a year later.

The bill was opposed by bag makers, who warned of job losses, and Republican legislators, who viewed the measure as an unnecessary government intrusion.

Reprinted from The Los Angeles Times (9/5/2014)