Policy Issues news

Arnold Jabs Bush On Global Warming

(CBS/AP) Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who recently signed a sweeping law to cut greenhouse gas emissions in California, complained in a letter to President Bush that there is no coherent federal policy to stop global warming.

The Republican governor wrote that the state's request for a federal waiver to set vehicle emissions standards has been "ignored with no explanation" despite an earlier letter from the governor to Mr. Bush.

"Before a decision is made on the waiver request, EPA will issue a notice and hold a hearing to take public comment," Environmental Protection Agency spokesman John Millett told The Associated Press on Tuesday. He said the waiver request was under review.

Schwarzenegger, up for re-election, has taken several jabs at fellow Republicans in Washington over environmental policy in recent weeks. He calls the fight against global warming one of the most important issues of modern times.

At a recent campaign stop in San Diego, Schwarzenegger boasted of the steps he had taken to fight global warning and cut reliance on Mideast oil by promoting alternative energy.

"The sad story is that, nationally, we don't have great leadership on that," he said.

California's efforts on global warming have been in the spotlight since Schwarzenegger and the state's Democrats reached an accord in August on legislation to cut greenhouse gases.

The measure imposes a first-in-the-nation emissions cap on utilities, refineries and manufacturing plants in a bid to curb the gases that scientists blame for warming the Earth.

When asked by "Tonight Show" host Jay Leno about television campaign ads attempting to link Schwarzenegger to President Bush, the star of the "Terminator" films mocked the notion.

"To link me to George Bush is like linking me to an Oscar," said the governor, who has never won — nor even been nominated for — acting's most prestigious award.