Governor Ralph Northam (D) vetoed two bills late last week from a Republican lawmaker because they would “weaken efforts to reduce air pollution and combat climate change.” The bills, however, were passed to ensure that Virginia made meaningful, yet fiscally and bureaucratically sound decisions to move forward with initiatives that would defend the Commonwealth against the effects of climate change and provide for a two-thirds legislative backing towards environmental programs.
Democratic lawmakers said the supermajority vote required to participate in initiatives gave them concern because it was “contrary to the normal operation of the General Assembly,” The Roanoke Times reported. Though, Delegate Charles Poindexter (R-Patrick) said a two-thirds vote was necessary if the legislature was going to approve something so significant.
H.B. 2611, patroned by Delegate Poindexter, would prohibit the governor or any state agency from adopting any regulation establishing a carbon dioxide cap-and-trade program without General Assembly approval, regarding the “Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.” Only a two-thirds vote in both the House of Delegates and State Senate would allow Virginia to participate in a cap-and-trade program.
In his veto memo, Governor Northam stated the legislation “violates the Virginia Constitution and would significantly undercut efforts to reduce air pollution and combat climate change.”
“Climate change, extreme weather, and sea level rise endanger public safety, economic vitality and the natural and built environments. To address these challenges and protect the people of Virginia, the Commonwealth must be able to use all available tools to combat climate change,” Northam said.
“This bill would prohibit the Governor, local governments, and a majority of those voting in the General Assembly from…the ability to adopt regulations, rules, and guidance that mitigate the impacts of climate change by reducing carbon pollution in the Commonwealth,” he added. “In addition, allowing energy producers to comply with regulation through credit trading would lessen costs to producers and consumers while generating revenue that could be spent to make Virginia more resilient to extreme weather events, sea level rise, and flooding.”
H.B. 2269, also forwarded by Delegate Poindexter, prohibits the governor or any state agency from adopting any regulation establishing or participating in the nine-state “Transportation and Climate Initiative” or any other regional transportation sector emissions program without General Assembly approval.
Also claiming the measure would violate the Virginia Constitution, the governor, in his veto memo, stated that “Virginia is obligated to join other states and face this threat [climate change] to our collective public safety and economic health.”