California to sue federal government

SACRAMENTO, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office announced this week the state will sue the federal government over a delayed emissions law.

Schwarzenegger's press secretary, Aaron McLear, said the lawsuit would target President George Bush's administration for repeatedly delaying the state's request for a law limiting auto emissions, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.

McLear said Friday that after waiting for an official decision from the Environmental Protection Agency since December 2005 on the matter, a lawsuit will be filed Wednesday by state officials.

"There's really no excuse at this point why we shouldn't be granted a waiver," McLear said of the EPA approval the state needs to implement more stringent environmental laws.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown said having a prominent governor such as Schwarzenegger file such a suit should bring the necessary attention to the state's environmental plight.

"The most prominent Republican governor suing the Bush administration sends a powerful message, which I hope will influence Congress," he told the Chronicle.