Draft Gore 2008 PAC

From Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's 2007 State of the State Speech, Verbatim. The full text is here

Now, in addition to addressing our infrastructure, last year the Legislature joined with me in passing the historic global warming measure that caps greenhouse gas emissions.

We hear so much about climate change. One area where we definitely need the climate to change is the national government's attitude about global warming. It would not act, so California did. California has taken the leadership in moving the entire country beyond debate and denial, to action. As California goes, so goes the rest of the nation.

So I ask you to appropriate the funds to implement this global warming legislation, so that we can become part of the world market that is already trading credits for the reduction of greenhouse gases.

I also ask you to work with me on another environmental first. I have proposed that California be the first in the world to develop a low-carbon fuel standard that leads us away from fossil fuel. And let us use the freedom and flexibility of the market to accomplish it. Let us blaze the way, for the U.S., and for China and for the rest of the world. Our cars have been running on dirty fuel for too long. Our country has been dependent on foreign oil for too long.

So I ask you to set in motion the means to free ourselves from oil and to free ourselves from OPEC.

I ask you to encourage the free market to overthrow the old order.

California has the muscles to bring about such change. I say, use it.

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We can add the Repbulican Governor of California to the still all-too-short list of elected officials engaged in policy that is responsive to climate science. California is a large enough market that it can determine CAFE standards on its own.