Publisher’s note: This editorial is from the July 30, 2013, Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Demonstrating just how difficult it will be to reach any political consensus on reforming the California Environmental Quality Act, some interesting opposition to the effort popped up this week.

Was it environmentalists, unions or the liberal Democrats who have been arguing that changes to the act would no doubt weaken valuable protections against pollution, environmental damage and health threats to residents that have been in place for more than 40 years?

Nope.

The warning shot fired this week was delivered by a coalition of business, housing and local government leaders. They say the plan to rework California’s landmark environmental law could actually backfire, leading to more lawsuits and making it even harder to approve responsible projects, the opposite of what lawmakers seeking the overhaul say they are trying to do. The group, according to the Associated Press, includes such powerful organizations as the California Chamber of Commerce, the Southern California Association of Governments and the California Association of Realtors.

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