Pubdate: Fri, 10 Oct 2003 Source: Associated Press (Wire) Copyright: 2003 Associated Press Author: Martha Mendoza, AP National Writer Cited: Drug Enforcement Administration ( www.dea.gov ) Cited: Marijuana Policy Project ( www.mpp.org ) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mmj.htm (Cannabis - Medicinal) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/bush.htm (Bush, George) SCHWARZENEGGER INHERITS FIGHTS BETWEEN CALIFORNIA AND WHITE HOUSE Gov.-elect Arnold Schwarzenegger is arriving in Sacramento with hopes of getting along better with one of California's recent enemies: the Bush administration. California has staged epic battles with the federal government on issues including environmental protection, energy, health care, consumer protections, immigration and medical marijuana. Schwarzenegger has promised to continue some of these efforts - - an ongoing lawsuit, for example, that would allow California to set tougher anti-smog standards for carbon dioxide emissions than the federal government requires. But during his first news conference as governor-elect, the moderate Republican indicated he's willing to reach some compromises with the more conservative President Bush, who plans to campaign with Schwarzenegger in California next week. "He promised me he would do everything possible to help California, and so I'm looking forward to working with him and asking him for a lot, a lot of favors," Schwarzenegger said. For his part, Bush said he's "absolutely" ready to work with the new governor - a striking turnaround from the polarized relationship between Bush and ousted Gov. Gray Davis, who mostly failed in his attempts to get the federal government to reimburse California for everything from the costs of imprisoning illegal immigrants to increased homeland security. The lawsuits reflect a desire among California's Democratic leaders for the state to have its own standards, which in many cases are more environmentally friendly, socially liberal and protective of consumers than Bush administration regulations. A hallmark of our state has been its willingness to say to the Bush administration, 'What you're doing is bad for our state, and we're going to take a different direction,"' said Carl Zichella, regional staff director for Sierra Club in Sacramento. "But I'm not sure how a Republican governor can tell Republican presidential candidate who is fighting for his life that he can't have what he wants in California." The point-man for the legal battles has been state Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who on Thursday sent Schwarzenegger a confidential memo outlining all the state's litigation, including dozens of lawsuits against the federal government. "My view is that the Bush administration is the most aggressively big government of any administration in national history, and so we have those lawsuits just because they're rewriting the doctrine of federalism," said Lockyer, who considers Schwarzenegger to be a friend. While most of the lawsuits are over policies, there's real money at stake as well. Still pending is the state's demand that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission order energy companies to refund $9 billion in windfall profits made in California. Schwarzenegger, who was criticized during the campaign for joining a closed-door meeting in Beverly Hills with Enron Chairman Kenneth Lay during the energy crisis, hasn't said whether he'll keep fighting to get the $9 billion refunded to ratepayers. Consumer and environmental advocates are worried Schwarzenegger will declare surrender. "I just hope that we'll be able to hold the line, and continue to be the bellwether that we have been in the past on so many issues," said Betsy Imholz is Director of the West Coast Regional Office of Consumers Union. The environmental conflicts include banning offshore drilling, protecting endangered species and limiting auto and power plant emissions. "There are many examples of the administration siding with polluters rather than clean air," said Tim Carmichael, president of the Coalition for Clean Air in Sacramento. "Schwarzenegger comes in as new blood with a positive attitude, and I believe good intentions with regard to the environment and public health. Perhaps he'll have better communication with the feds, and resolve some of the problems." Although he hasn't made detailed policy statements on many issues, Schwarzenegger promised while campaigning to fight to protect California's higher standards when it comes to carbon dioxide emissions. "California's landmark legislation to cut greenhouse gases is now law, and I will work to implement it and to win the expected challenges in court along the way," he said. One of the touchiest battles may involve medical marijuana. Schwarzenegger has admitted using marijuana and other "soft" drugs in the past, and was asked while campaigning if he supports drug legalization. Schwarzenegger called it "a bad idea" but said "I would legalize medical (marijuana)." Smoking marijuana is a federal crime, but in California voters approved a law in 1996 allowing sick and dying people to use the drug. Since then, the Drug Enforcement Agency has raided growers and distributors of medical marijuana, despite protests from local law enforcement. "The governor can't control the feds, but he has a bully pulpit and can raise his voice," said Bruce Mirken, spokesman for the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington D.C. "Perhaps a Republican like Schwarzenegger can have some influence with the White House." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin