EDITORIAL CALIFORNIA GREENING THE GOLDEN STATE LEADS THE NATION -- AGAIN.

CALIFORNIANS might complain about how the politicians back there in Washington ignore the largest state in the union when it comes to certain things. But the truth is that often doesn't matter.

That point was made clear by the landmark bipartisan legislation crafted and endorsed last week by both the state's Democratic Legislature and the Republican governor, setting the most restrictive greenhouse-gas emissions law in the country for industries.

Nationally, the Democrats and Republicans can't even agree that carbon dioxide, the main ingredient in greenhouse gases, ought to be controlled at all, let alone provide leadership on this global issue.

Here in California, we tend to lead the way on such matters, as we did on clean-air laws decades ago.

Critics have raised some fair concerns about the harmful effects this legislation could have on the state's economy. The possibility is worrisome, but unlikely. As they have in the past, California leaders can and must find a way to make our policies work for both business and the environment -- for everyone's future benefit.

That's just the kind of can-do spirit we embody here in the Golden State. If Washington is unwilling to take the lead, California will.