Stating
that the law would have hurt consumers and had “little positive impact,”
California Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger
vetoed AB 2270, the water softener ban bill, on Sept. 30.
“We
created a cascade of opposition from the makers, sellers and users of water
softeners,” said
Peter Censky, executive
director of the Water Quality Association. “Fortunately, common sense prevailed
in the end.”
Schwarzenegger acknowledged the
reality of salinity problems. However, he said in his veto message that the
bill includes provisions “that go too far in limiting residential use of water
softeners.”
The WQA, the Pacific Water
Quality Association and others in the industry put together a coalition to
oppose the bill. This coalition included retail “big-box” companies, major
brand names, dealers and many of their employees, and the Retail Merchant’s
Association.
The coalition sent nearly 1,000
letters to legislators against the bill. The PWQA, the WQA and other retailers
hired a lobbyist, and two industry members — Culligan and GE — also hired
lobbyists and communications firms. A major awareness and e-mailing campaign
led to the placement of three full-page ads in the
Sacramento Bee.
Through
a new Web site,
SaveMySoftener.com, the industry helped direct more than 14,000
consumer e-mails to every legislator in California and the governor’s office,
expressing their personal opposition to the ban.
