Eight CA Dems Join Jerry Brown in Paris

Eight Democrat state legislators are joining California Gov. Jerry Brown at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris this week.

Senate President Pro Tem Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) and Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) are leading the delegation, which intends to laud California’s green technology in order to elicit foreign investment in the state.

De León, interviewed by reporters on a conference call, stated, “Because we believe, if we are successful, by doing so, we’ll attract the creation of more jobs for Californians,” according to Capital Public Radio.

The legislators also promise to search for alternative methods to build additional charging stations for electric vehicles as well as examine European methods to ramp up production of alternative fuels.

According to the Los Angeles Times, other legislators making the trip include:

Sen. Fran Pavley of Agoura Hills, who pushed for vehicle standards in 2002 that became federal law, and also was involved in 2006 legislation that helped create the cap-and-trade program.

Sen. Ricardo Lara of Bell Gardens, who wrote a law signed by Brown in 2014 that intended to fund technology for cleaner trucks and buses, and another law to create a plan for limiting black carbon and methane. Brown signed both in 2014.

Sen. Bob Wieckowski of Fremont, the chairman of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee.

Assemblyman Anthony Rendon of Lakewood, the replacement for Atkins as speaker next year.

Assemblyman Richard Bloom of Santa Monica, who chairs a budget subcommittee on resources and transportation.

Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia of Coachella, the chair of the Committee on Jobs, Economic Development and the Economy.

Funds for the trip are being supplied by the Climate Action Reserve, which has solicited funds from corporate and philanthropic donors.

Tony Earley, CEO of PG&E Corp., who is attending the conference with Brown, told the San Francisco Chronicle, “The message he wants to deliver there resonated with me. By and large, California has developed a very flexible model going forward, put in place programs like cap and trade, set aggressive goals for renewables and recognized that companies need to be able to thrive in this environment.”

Some of the legislators’ campaign funds have also been siphoned to help pay for the trip.