http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2010/07/28/dan-logue-ab32/ 

In the California legislature, the loudest voice to kill the landmark clean energy climate change law AB32 has become Assemblyman Dan Logue (R-Linda). Described by Sacramento insiders as a "backbencher," Logue has built a powerful coalition of former tobacco lobbyists and Texan oil companies to orchestrate Prop 23, an initiative to essentially rescind AB 32. But who is Logue?

During an interview earlier this month in Yuba City, California, Logue told the Wonk Room that he thinks that "the issue of global warming is not solved," referring to climate change as a "scam." Calling his repeal effort an "epic battle," Logue claimed that the pro-Prop 23 forces would raise up to $45-50 million:

Climate Change LOGUE: I think the issue of global warming is not solved. I do not think the science has been settled. [...] This is a scam.

In a blog post and email rant last night to members of the California Democratic Party's Progressive Caucus, a leading foe of ocean protection, in full Tea-Party mode, called upon Speaker Perez to resign.

Resign?  Really?

Over a state law passed more than a decade ago, that has recently been reaffirmed by a unanimous vote of the California Democratic Party's Environmental Caucus?

As a former Assemblymember, political attacks aren't unusual. But when they are this outrageous, they need to be answered. 

Let's step back and take a look at the facts.

Since it was signed Gov. Gray Davis in 1999, the Marine Life Protection Act  has sparked one of the most transparent, collaborative, open and inclusive processes in the state history.

Literally hundreds of meetings involving stakeholders have been held up and down the California coast. Commercial and recreational fishermen, divers, surfers, small-business owners and some of California's most prominent scientists are participating. The Department of Fish & Game reports a record-shattering number of public comments. Every decision is made in public and citizens have the opportunity to weigh in every step of the way.

It's the issue that won't go away.

Republican Sam Blakeslee's rope-a-dope strategy of shying away from debates and campaign appearances is continuing to draw the ire of the region's media.

In today's Monterey Herald http://www.montereyherald.com/opinion/ci_15620243?nclick_check=1, the newspaper says "He's too busy for public appearances or debates but not too busy to bash opponent John Laird in misleading ads."

The Herald's blasting of Blakeslee comes after he was a no-show for a League of Women Voters debate on Monday. He has declined all debates except one in Santa Cruz, which will be held after a projected 70 percent of the ballots have been mailed in.

Even his hometown newspaper (the only one in the district that has endorsed him) has taken Blakeslee to task.

So much for the Rose Garden strategy.

It is unfortunate that some are so free with their hateful rhetoric and  casually accuse our democratically  elected leaders of racism and green-washing.  

Speaker John Pérez has a strong and consistent record showing his commitment to social and environmental justice. Suffice it to reference his work on AB 890, the law passed last fall to address chronic pollution (manganese) to the City of Maywood's water supply. Championing a solution to the oft-ignored problem that plagues Maywood's mostly working-class and immigrant community is hardly the hallmark of a "corporate green-washer. 

Speaker Pérez' support for the Marine Life Protection Act reflects his constituents' views and the strong support for marine conservation shown by California's Latino population.  During the process to implement  the Marine Life Protection Act in southern California,  Latino residents  have submitted thousands of supportive letters and petitions. Last October, hundreds of Latino residents from schoolchildren to families participated in an MLPA hearing inLong Beach demanding improved ocean protection in the face of overtly hostile and taunting crowds of sportsfishing telling them to "go back where they came from."  

The investigative journalists at California Watch http://www.californiawatch.org/watchblog/1-ohio-coal-company-donated-fiorina-also-gave-prop-23 have unearthed data showing that Murray Coal, headed by a global warming denier, is investing heavily in the race against Senator Barbara Boxer and hopes to pass Proposition 23, the ballot measure being bankrolled by dirty energy interests. The company has given $25,000 to Republican Senate candidate Carly Fiorina and $30,000 for Prop 23. It also has given money to six Republican congressional candidates in recent elections.

Notably absent from the list of confirmed participants are Moneybags Meg and Carly-fornia, along with the Governator, who is, after all, the state's top Republican.

Maldonado's participation with this gang of far-right characters is curious given his attempt to portray himself as a moderate who reaches across the aisle.

Kudos to the League of Women Voters for not caving in and moving forward with a debate tonight in the battle for the Central Coast State Senate seat between Democrat John Laird and Republican Sam Blakeslee.

The Blakeslee camp refused to participate in the debate, despite being offered numerous opportunities by the League. So the League didn't buckle, and tonight will host a key debate in the race, in which vote by mail ballots already are being cast. Laird and two minor party candidates will share the stage.

Meanwhile, Blakeslee continues to draw the ire of mainstream media in his district. Watch this report from one of the largest tv stations in the area, KSWB-TV, in which it says Blakes is "noticeably absent from public view" during this campaign. http://www.ksbw.com/video/24388944/index.html. Laird is quoted in the broadcast saying that Blakeslee's MIA status is backfiring, and adding support to the Laird campaign.

Election day is August 17th.

In a boost for coastal  businesses and ocean protection advocates, California Assembly Speaker John Perez has called on the California Fish and Game Commission to adopt "the strongest possible network of marine protect areas based on science" along California's southern Coast.

In a letter to the commission, Perez noted that fisheries are in decline, and that marine protected areas will "ensure that fisheries can recover and be healthy for generations to come."

Said the Speaker: "...You have a historic opportunity to create a legacy for southern California's oceans and generations to come ... Please adopt the protections most likely to provide lasting benefits for all Californians by choosing the strongest possible option of Marine Protected Areas in southern California."

The Fish and Game Commission is expected to finalize plans for southern California’s new marine protected areas in November.  The Marine Life Protection Act is being implemented regionally, with local divers, fishermen, conservationists and business leaders developing marine protected area proposals for review by science and policy experts. Each plan undergoes a thorough scientific and economic review to ensure it maximizes environmental benefits and minimizes short-term costs.
 
In southern California, policy experts have recommended that the Fish and Game Commission adopt a compromise plan that protects iconic coastal areas like south La Jolla, Point Dume and Naples Reef while leaving nearly 90% of the coastline open for fishing. 

A strong marine protected area plan will help rebuild California’s struggling fishing industry (statewide revenues are down 50% since 1990