Who We Are

The Environmental Roundtable is a forum within the California Republican League for mainstream Republicans who, like our predecessor, Theodore Roosevelt, believe that conservation and preservation of the Earth are Republican values. Republicans have historically assumed the leadership role in forging policies and programs for a sustainable, healthy world, and we believe it is time that we do so again.

93% of the Republican electorate in the last primary indicated that they considered the protection of the environment to be important in deciding whether they would vote for a candidate. Then why do so many Americans view the Republican Party as disinterested in responsible stewardship of the environment? Because the shouts of Democrat partisans and the Republican right-wing minority have drowned out the voices of the vast majority of mainstream Republicans, particularly in California. Roundtable members are committed to correcting this misconception.

Many Republicans have taken leadership roles in conservation groups throughout California, but their contributions have been obscured by the public's image of the GOP as interested only in business at the expense of the environment. This picture is flat-out wrong and we aim to change it by highlighting environmental Republican leaders. In addition, a growing number of our candidates are making their dedication to our environment a key issue in their campaigns, and we want you to know their names so you can support their election.

Republican philosophy is ideally suited to solve the perceived conflict between preservation and economic growth so common in California. Our conservative tradition recognizes the value of our natural resources and our deep pride in California's beauty compels us to strive for harmony rather than conflict between preservationists and developers. Together we can achieve sustainable development: balancing economic progress with our social responsibility to protect our environmental heritage. And by supporting candidates within our party who embody these principals the Republican Party can lead the way.



What We Care About

The Environmental Roundtable is dedicated to the following issues:

• Responsible Natural Resources Management: The logging of our forests, the mining of our mountains, and irrigation of our streams must be diligently managed to minimize adverse effects on the ecosystem.
  
  
• Development and Growth: California's population continues to grow and so we must continue to develop, but with the proper education and planning we can minimize suburban sprawl, preserve our wild spaces, and maintain the quality of our earth, water and air.
  
  
• Health Issues: We have a social responsibility to protect our health and that of our children, regardless of race or class, from the dangers of industry's environmental pollution. However, industrial growth also benefits citizens by infusing capital into local communities. By supporting sustainable businesses that are more efficient and less environmentally harmful we can achieve both goals.
  
  
• Alternative Energy: We support developing energy generation, transmission and storage technologies that create a sustainable energy infrastructure including solar, wind and fuel cells. This path would clear the way for an independent energy network and would contribute to our national security by lowering our dependence on foreign oil.
  
  

• Discuss: The Environmental Roundtable is designed to allow Republicans concerned with the care of our earth to discuss environmental issues and encourage public debate. This includes inviting experts in the field to meet with us to discuss proposed and current policies.
  
  
• Educate: Many Republican candidates, especially at the local level, do not have the detailed environmental background to enable them to take knowledgeable positions. The Environmental Roundtable will assist these Republicans by facilitating expert advice. This will not only raise the level of local debate, but as our candidates rise to higher office, they can run with a strong environmental track record.
  
  
• Act: We identify and endorse Republican candidates who support reasonable environmental controls, programs and projects. We realize that there may be times a candidate gets the overall endorsement of CRL but does not get the endorsement of the Environmental Roundtable. This position is taken so that those of you who put the environment before all other issues can know that our endorsement has meaning.