Thank you to everyone who sent letters and offered their support in defeating CA bill SB 1454. Despite SB 1454 having the support of Cargill and ADM, the Governor vetoed the bill.

Your letters of support were a huge help in defeating this bill. All the efforts everyone put towards defeating this bill resulted in us making progress in the assembly. We got very close to defeating the bill there, but it nonetheless did make it through to the Senate. As a result of our momentum in the assembly, both Cargill and ADM hired additional lobbyists to join in the efforts to get this bill passed in the Senate. It did end up passing in the Senate which meant our last hope was for the Governor (a.k.a. The Terminator) to veto or terminate this bill. We were able to meet with the Governors’ staff prior to him taking a position on the bill. In the end, the Governor understood what this bill was about and appropriately vetoed it.

As you will read in the below veto message, the letters and messages you sent were heard loud and clear. Thank you for all your help, time and efforts put into defeating this bill. We won this battle, however most assuredly the war will be still continue, but now we are organized and it is a true example that the political system can work, and that it does not always support mega-big business. Thank you, thank you, thank you…

Del Andrus

ENSO Plastics, LLC

Below is the veto message from the governor:

To the Members of the California State Senate:

I am returning Senate Bill 1454 without my signature.

This bill greatly expands existing environmental labeling requirements for plastic bags and plastic food and beverage containers to apply to virtually any and all types of plastic products.

I have signed into law the author’s SB 228, which requires manufacturers of compostable plastic bags meeting specific American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) standards to ensure that the bag is readily and easily identifiable from other plastic bags. I think that bill represents a reasonable next step in providing information to the consumer and recyclers about the differences in biodegradable products.

I am concerned about the much more expansive universe of plastic products that this bill would regulate and the unforeseen consequences that could result from such a vast expansion.

For this reason, I am unable to sign this bill.

Sincerely,

Arnold Schwarzenegger