Legislative counsel's digest on environmental quality

Sweeping changes in the California Environmental Quality Act would stand little chance of approval through the normal legislative process, which Democrats — environmentalists’ usual allies — control. But the governor’s budget cannot pass without some Republican votes, and GOP lawmakers see an opportunity to win long-sought concessions.

The legislators have declined to share the details of their proposal publicly, but draft legislation to overhaul the law was obtained by The Times.

-- Shane Goldmacher and Evan Halper in the Los Angeles Times (March 16, 2011)