Environmental Agendas During Mid-Term Elections Take A Hit, But Not In California

It will certainly be harder for states and the federal government to move forward on clean air and climate change initiatives because environmental champions in Congress and state legislatures were replaced by climate change deniers and full-throated backers of Big Coal and the oil industry.

But it was heartening to see the special interests in California lose their' ballot initiative to roll back bi-partisan, consensus clean air standards.

And that was not because California is a liberal state. It's because Californians lived for decades with smog and its horrible personal, social and economic consequences.

Another noteworthy exception: Chris Larson's ascension to the State Senate, replacing carbon champion Jeff Plale.

I figure the pendulum will swing back when corporate sympathizers on public office overreach, get caught taking money or otherwise compromise public health and safety.