Posted on 10/12/2005 6:11:22 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A California assemblywoman who suspects pollution contributed to the cancer she was diagnosed with last year announced plans Wednesday to seek an air cleanup bond that could cost the state between $2 billion and $5 billion dollars.
The announcement by Assemblywoman Jenny Oropeza, D-Long Beach, followed a hearing in which lawmakers heard nearly three hours of testimony linking air pollution from California's ports, trucks and other shipping sources to deaths, childhood illnesses and even poor fetal development.
The state Air Resources Board released a study earlier this month that found diesel emissions from the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports are increasing cancer risks miles inland, creating a potential risk of 50 additional cancer cases per million people within 15 miles of the facilities.
There are about 2 million residents in that area, and the greater Los Angeles area has the nation's dirtiest air.
"This issue really came home when I was diagnosed with cancer last year," said Oropeza, who is seeking a state Senate seat next year. "It really brought home to me that I live in a highly polluted area."
She said she suspected her liver cancer, which is in remission, was caused by exposure to pollution and an immune system weakened by stress.
Oropeza said she has not determined the exact dollar amount of the bond measure, which would need to be approved by two-thirds of the Legislature, signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and go before voters by November 2006 in order to take effect.
She said the amount would be "in the ballpark" of $2 billion to $5 billion, saying a study by the Schwarzenegger administration had estimated that as the cost of cleaning up pollution related to shipping.
Oropeza said anti-pollution measures funded by the bond could include replacing high-polluting diesel engines and old cars and having ships shut off their diesel engines and run on electric power while in port.
Schwarzenegger spokeswoman Katherine McLane said she couldn't comment on legislation that doesn't yet exist, but said the governor's budget this year already allocates $88.5 million for similar programs.
"His administration is engaged in a comprehensive review of California's coming infrastructure needs and environmental issues are front and center in that process," McLane said. "He's glad that the assemblymember shares his environmental priorities."
The bond initiative could come at the same time as one proposed by Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata, who last month called on Schwarzenegger and other lawmakers to support a statewide bond to shore up aging levees and make other infrustructure improvements.
Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, said reducing air pollution may be a priority for California but that the state should pay for it by cutting other costs, not going deeper into debt.
"People ought to get used to the notion of reprioritizing, and when we have something of a higher priority, find something else to cut," Coupal said.
Some measures proposed by Oropeza would be largely symbolic of the state's commitment to clean air, said Andrew Antwih, chief consultant to the Assembly Transportation Committee, which Oropeza chairs.
Among them would be more funding for plug-in hybrid cars, which get even better gas mileage than traditional gas-electric hybrids such as the Honda Insight and Toyota Prius. Though hybrids don't need to be plugged in, some people have modified them to add extra batteries that can be recharged from a wall outlet.
imo, the only polluted area is in your head, Assemblywoman Oropeza.
The GReenocracy has spoken.
All Hail GangGreen!
There must be a mistake in this article, the cancer surely is in her brain.
There are about 2 million residents in that area...
She said the amount would be "in the ballpark" of $2 billion to $5 billion...
Only 20 to 50 million dollars to potentially prevent one case of cancer, what a deal.
In case she hadn't heard, the State just floated billions of dollars in bonds that it can't pay back.
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Just wait 'til ya see what's coming down the pike.
The state legislature, under dem control mind you, has seemed to have lost the ability to prioritize much of anything here of late... except spending more and more .. on illegals benefits, on a waste of an education system, on union patronage for support/donations,, etc., for starters.
Or maybe it was the stress of drinking too much as she spent other people's money.
BTW, I live in this area. Who can I sue? (I'll split the money with you.)
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