Check out the Gov. Schwarzenegger video.
AIRAN SCRUBY
News Editor
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger chose President Andrew K. Benton’s backyard as a backdrop for the signing of what he called a historic bill for California, which will regulate and reduce greenhouse gas emissions for homes and businesses.
Benton said the event, held yesterday at the Brock House, was planned on short notice, but that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s visit was an opportunity for Pepperdine.
“Today’s event is a great opportunity presented to us as a consequence of long-term, bipartisan friendships,” Benton wrote in an e-mail.
Assembly Bill 32, the California Global Warming Solutions Act, has been well-received by many proponents of environmental protection, but some critics say the bill will hurt California businesses and is an attempt on the governor’s part to win votes in the November election.
The event was closed to the public, but students from the Pepperdine Ambassador’s Council attended the event, as well as Benton, University Provost Darryl Tippens and those who worked to pass the bill.
Benton said the signing was private at the request of the governor’s office.
PAC members said they were surprised by the sudden visit.
“It was kind of a surprise to me,” said PAC president Janie Smothers. “I’m excited that he decided to sign it here.”
Benton said the visit was non-political and was held at the request of the governor. He suggested that Pepperdine was chosen for aesthetic reasons.
“The views of the mountains and the Pacific were both persuasive, I’m sure,” Benton said in an e-mail.
The bill was co-authored by two Democrats in the state assembly: Assemblywoman Fran Pavley and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez. Pavley represents the 41st District, of which Pepperdine is a part.
“I want to thank the governor for his consistent leadership on climate change,” Pavley said. Pavley said the bill was an example of a bipartisan agreement and the efforts of many other groups, such as the Sierra Club and the Interfaith Council.
Schwarzenegger held two signings for the bill yesterday. The first bill signing, held in the morning in San Francisco, was attended by both authors and supporters from around the world. British Prime Minister Tony Blair participated in the first signing via satellite, expressing his support for the legislation.
During the on-campus signing, representatives from Canada, Japan and the United States spoke.
A proponent of environmental protections, Sir Richard Branson is also the owner of Virgin Atlantic, a conglomerate of companies including cell phone carriers and airlines, joined the ceremony via live satellite to congratulate the governor on signing the bill.
“I wish every leader in the world had the same leadership skills,” Branson said. Branson has pledged to invest $3 billion in clean energy alternatives to combat global warming.
Not everyone on campus was impressed with Schwarzenegger’s leadership skills.
A small group of protesters waited outside after the governor signed the bill, and a larger group gathered near the campus gate on Malibu Canyon Road.
The group at the Brock House arrived in Hummers, which they called “Arnold’s Gas Guzzlers,” and one protester wore a Schwarzenegger mask and suit, mocking the governor.
One protester, Avery, who refused to disclose his last name, said he was protesting Schwarzenegger’s decision to sign a bill because of what he called an election ploy.
“Arnold’s only in this for himself,” Avery said.
Schwarzenegger said that while he focused on reviving California’s businesses and economy when he initially took office, the environment was always a concern.
“We have to become more pro-business, but I also said we had to protect our environment,” Schwarzenegger said during the signing.
The governor also cited the support of many California businesses, including Safeway and California-based portions of BP, a fuel company, that supported the bill and the ability of new, cleaner energy to boost the economy through creating new businesses.
“We will create a whole new industry to pump up our economy,” Schwarzenegger said.
Nunez also answered critics who claimed the bill was being used to show Arnold’s bipartisanship during his speech at the signing.
“We’re trying to convince President Bush that Democrats and Republicans breathe the same air,” Nunez said.
09-28-2006