UPDATE:
From: Judi Sullivan
Sent: Thursday, May 29, 2014 5:13 PM
Subject: California SB1132 Fails to Pass in the CA Senate
According to Senator Mitchell’s office at around 4:00 p.m. today, SB 1132 failed with a vote of 16 Ayes( yes votes) to 16 Noes (no votes), with 8 senators abstaining. 21 votes were needed for it to pass. The oil companies won this round.
California Senate Bill 1132 (Fracking Moratorium) fails on May 28 – another vote on May 29
[Editor: I received the following report and call to action from Judi Sullivan. Read and make those phone calls! – RS]The vote was close. 18 to 16. 21 votes are needed to pass the Bill. A repeal was requested and granted. Another vote will be taken tomorrow on the Bill and that one will be final.
It was suggested to call or to email the following Democratic Senators, or even better, if you know any of their constituents, to ask them to call and request a YES vote on SB 1132. The democratic senators who voted against the Bill are:
S. Lara from Long Beach: 916-651-4033, S. Torres from San San Diego: 916-652-4032, S. Hernandez from L.A: 926-651-4024. I’m not sure where these other senators are from but you can look them up. All represent the fracking areas. S. Correia, I think is from Modesto, 916-652-4034, , S. Waso: I think is from the L A area. I don’t have his number.
Senator Mitchell’s office representative didn’t think it would be worth it to call the other Republican Senators who voted against the Bill as they aren’t likely to change their minds.
We still have a chance. Only three swing votes are needed. I’m going to call all of them again and I hope that some of you will make some calls, too. If you know anyone in the districts that voted against the Bill, it’s important to have them realize that they are the most vulnerable to the health and safety dangers of fracking. Any of us can call, but the ones with the most influence will naturally be those who live in the districts where a change vote could make a difference.
Even if the Bill fails, a strong stand has been taken by the public. The oil companies have felt the strength of the grassroots effort. Testimonies given at the hearings were specific, compelling and well documented scientifically with none of the statistics re: concern for the health and safety of our earth, air, water, wildlife and people refuted by the opposition.
Progress has been made. Awareness is growing, as is our power base. This may or may not be reflected in the vote tomorrow, but as a movement, we ARE on the rise and will prevail.
Much Love and Light,
Judi
Later: Another democratic senator to call that was left off the first list
Democratic Senator Galiano from Orange City: 916-651-4005.
Explaining concerns in addition to asking for a YES vote is most effective.
Passing this Bill does not effect their district’s current revenue from fracking unless current fracking sites are not following regulations set by SB 4. SB 1132 prohibits more oil stimulation wells from being established until health and safety issues for the population, land , air and water quality can be properly addressed and regulated, extending accountability by requiring a DEIR by July 2015.
In addition to other comments being made, I also have been mentioning that our city, for the first time in our history, is not receiving a water allotment from the State , emphasizing the drain being experienced up north which is related to the enormous amount of water required for fracking.
The final vote in the Senate on this Bill for this year is today. If it doesn’t pass, the oil companies will have free reign to drill more wells. When this Bill was first introduced, 90 more wells were planned. That estimate has increased considerably.
Please do what you can. It only takes a few minutes.
Thank you.
Judi Sullivan