Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays himself as a global environmental leader, but that image was tarnished Friday as two former state air pollution officials testified about an administration they said is working to weaken global warming initiatives. Schwarzenegger's top aides have meddled in the day-to-day affairs of the state Air Resources Board, compromising its independence and integrity even as the Republican governor was traveling the world promoting the state's landmark global warming law, according to its former chairman, Robert Sawyer, and past Executive Director Catherine Witherspoon. "To say it was schizophrenic is to be kind.
It was absolutely appalling," Witherspoon testified Friday before the Assembly Natural Resources Committee. "Never before has a governor interfered so much." Her testimony came nearly two weeks after Schwarzenegger unexpectedly fired Sawyer, saying the panel needed new leadership to navigate the complex implementation of the 2006 global warming law.
Witherspoon resigned July 2 in protest. Their accounts Friday painted an unflattering portrait of political infighting between key officials in the governor's office, lawmakers and the air board. Arnold Schwarzenegger portrays himself as a global environmental leader, but that image was tarnished Friday as two former state air pollution officials testified about an administration they said is working to weaken global warming initiatives.
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