Schwarzenegger signs first US law limiting greenhouse gas emissions News
Schwarzenegger signs first US law limiting greenhouse gas emissions

[JURIST] California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger [official website; JURIST news archive] signed the Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006 [text] into law Wednesday, marking the approval of the first US bill designed to restrict greenhouse gas [EPA backgrounder] emissions. Among other provisions, the law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by 2020 and grants new authority to the California Air Resources Board [official website] to set specific emission targets for various industries. At the signing ceremonies [press release with recorded video] Wednesday, Schwarzenegger reaffirmed his commitment to fighting global warming.

Schwarzenegger had promised to sign the measure to combat global warming [press release] even before the California State Assembly [official website] passed the bill [JURIST report] Sept. 1. Reuters has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Indian National Congress founded

The Indian National Congress (INC) was founded on December 28, 1885 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. In subsequent decades, the so-called Congress Party would advocate for Indian independence from the UK, which was eventually achieved in 1947. The first Prime Minister of independent India, Jawaharlal Nehru, was elected as a member of the INC. Learn more about the history and founding of the Indian National Congress.

Congress recognized Pledge of Allegiance

On December 28, 1945, Congress officially recognized the Pledge of Allegiance and encouraged its recitation in schools. The Pledge was supposedly written in 1892 by Francis Bellamy, a Baptist minister, to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus Day. The words “under God” were added by Congress in 1954. The revised version of the Pledge was the subject of litigation before the United States Supreme Court originally brought by Michael Newdow, a parent who unsuccessfully objected to his daughter's school district policy requiring daily recitation of the Pledge. The court ruled that Newdow had no standing.

Nepal ends monarchy, establishes republic

On December 28, 2007, the Kingdom of Nepal's interim parliament ended the country's monarchy and established the Republic of Nepal. Free elections were held on April 10 of the following year to elect a Constituent Assembly.

Learn more about the rise of democracy in Nepal.