California to Ban Plastic Bags

Los Angeles, CA – Governor Jerry Brown said he will approve a ban on single-use plastic bags, in what would make California the first state to outlaw them. Lawmakers passed the bill in August, and Brown’s signature is needed before the end of September to pass it into law.

“I probably will sign it, yes,” Brown said during a televised debate with his Republican rival Neel Kashkari, who is trailing badly in opinion polls. “In fact, I’ll tell you why I’m going to sign it: there are about 50 cities with their own plastic-bag ban, and that’s causing a lot of confusion,” he said, cited by the Los Angeles Times and other media.

He added: “This is a compromise. It’s taking into account the needs of the environment, and the needs of the economy and the needs of the grocers.”

Under the legislation, the bags would disappear from grocery stores and pharmacies by July 1, 2015, and from convenience and liquor stores effective July 1, 2016. The bill would allow stores to charge 10 cents for paper or reusable bags. Similar bans, backed by environmentalists, are already in place in cities including Los Angeles and San Francisco.

A ban is opposed by Republicans who say it would be too much government meddling for small and medium-sized businesses, and by bag manufacturers who fear job losses.

Kashkari, who trails 50-34 in recent polling, said he opposes the legislation. “No chance would I sign that bill,” he said in this latest debate.