Group Created To Rep Plastic Bag Industry Mfrs./Recyclers Plans To Collect Referendum Petition Signatures That Would Let Voters Statewide Repeal Or Approve Sac'to-Enacted Plastic Bag Ban In Nov. 2016...And Would Suspend Statewide Ban Until Then
(Sept. 30, 2014) -- Minutes after Gov. Jerry Brown signed into a law a legislatively enacted statewide ban on single use plastic bags that includes a charge of at least ten cents charge on every recycled paper bag sold [LBREPORT.com coverage here], a group created to represent plastic bag manufacturing and recycling industry interests announced plans to gather referendum petition signatures that, if successful, would let voters statewide decide whether to repeal or approve the Sacramento-enacted measure in a November 2016 election. If the group successfully collects and submits sufficient valid registered voter signatures (it says a little over half a million) within a 90 day time window, it says the statewide measure would be suspended until that election.
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The American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA) issued the following statement today (Sept. 30) attributed to its Executive Director, Lee Califf: "Fortunately, California's constitution provides voters the opportunity to stop bad laws through the referendum process. Our research confirms that the vast majority of California voters are opposed to legislation that bans recyclable plastic bags and allows grocers to charge and keep fees on other bags...Since state lawmakers failed their constituents by approving this terrible bill, we will take the question directly to the public and have great faith they will repeal it at the ballot box. Ultimately the voters will decide and, until then, California families -- including thousands of our industry's workers -- will be protected from the implementation of this unprecedented scam." The group says that under the CA constitution, if it collects signatures squal to 5% of votes cast for all Gubernatorial candidates in the last election (504,760 it says), the plastic bag ban/paper bag charge law will be suspended until CA voters statewide can choose to allow the law to go into effect or block it at the next general election (Nov. 2016.) Below is the group's release in full: [American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA) release text] The American Progressive Bag Alliance (APBA) issued the following statement from Executive Director Lee Califf in response to Governor Jerry Brown's decision to sign SB 270 (Padilla) in to law. If the referendum process results in suspending or repealing the statewide ban, it would leave Long Beach's 2011 Council-narrowly-enacted plastic bag ban in force. LB's ordinance was initially proposed in December 2010 by then-Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal (an early supporter of a statewide plastic bag that failed passage) joined by then-Councilmember (now Mayor) Robert Garcia and Councilman Gary DeLong as a way to promote use of cloth/canvas reusable/washable bags. The measure never received more than the minimum number of five Councilmembers votes on either of its May 2011 text approval votes (detailed below.) The LB ordinance received final approval in a cliffhanger Council vote on May 24, 2011 after Councilman Dee Andrews exited the Council Chamber prior to the agenda item (his office says to attend a previously scheduled engagement) and Councilman Gary DeLong exited during the item but returned to provide the one vote margin needed for passage. Voting "yes" on the May 24, 2011 enacting (second reading) vote were Councilmembers Robert Garcia, Vice Mayor Suja Lowenthal, Councilmembers Gary DeLong, James Johnson and Steve Neal. Voting "no" on the May 24 enacting vote were Councilmembers Rae Gabelich, Gerrie Schipske and Patrick O'Donnell. Councilman Dee Andrews, who voted "no" on December 7, 2010 on the initial agenda item (brought by Vice Mayor Lowenthal, joined by Garcia and DeLong) to have the City Attorney prepare draft ordinance text, voted "yes" on May 17 to approve the ordinance text he'd voted not to request. By voting "yes" on May 17, Andrews provided the five vote margin to get the ordinance past its first reading (when four other Councilmembers, DeLong, O'Donnell, Schipske, and Gabelich were absent). The statewide law includes a provision allowing Long Beach to continue to enforce its ordinance. Under the LB law, LB stores selling paper bags must charge 10 cents per bag while the statewide law requires stores to charge at least tens cents for each paper bag. Developing.
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