California Budget Woes Dampen Environmental Legislative Agenda

California's massive budget deficit and sluggish economy are likely to temper environmentalists' efforts to push an aggressive legislative agenda in the state in the new year, with the exception of several high-profile clean energy bills, according to sources. While fiscal concerns are likely to dampen efforts for expanded environmental controls, the state is poised to begin implementing the nation's toughest greenhouse gas (GHG) regulations, which were adopted last year, and Gov. Jerry Brown (D), who was sworn into office on...