Skelton: Leaders need to dig in on CEQA changes

SACRAMENTO — Reforming California’s environmental regulations has been a priority among critics who say the rules are too onerous for businesses in the state.

But there’s been little progress in the effort to change the California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, writes George Skelton in Monday’s column.

Some of the problem is personal, including disagreements between Senate leader Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) and Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles).

“Last year about this time, Steinberg scuttled a CEQA reform being pushed by Pérez, who’s still irked about it,” Skelton writes.

The situation hasn’t been helped by Gov. Jerry Brown, who has “talked a good game” and called reforming CEQA “the Lord’s work.”

But, Skelton adds, “he seemingly has been waiting for the Lord to do it.”

All of Skelton’s columns are here.

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