Posted on 08/29/2006 12:57:04 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
Facing a looming deadline, lawmakers on Tuesday were reviewing late changes to legislation that would make California the first state to impose a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from industries.
Democrats and top aides to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger have spent the last few months negotiating a bill that would put the state on the path to reducing its emissions by an estimated 25 percent by 2020, to the levels of 1990. The sides have been at odds over how to achieve the goal, but a compromise deal appeared to be in the works, according to aides with both camps.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, said Monday that time was running out to meet a Thursday deadline, the last day of the legislative session.
Democratic leaders and Schwarzenegger's aides negotiated outstanding issues late Monday, but it was unclear whether several key obstacles had been resolved. The final bill has not yet been distributed publicly.
Among the points of concern was a so-called "safety valve" sought by the administration that would give the state the power to delay the 2020 cap if the state was hit by a natural disaster, terror attack or other emergency. Democratic lawmakers have said that any emergency powers should be narrowly crafted so they do not give businesses a loophole to escape the cap.
Schwarzenegger, who is running for re-election, has made global warming a centerpiece of his environmental agenda, saying the state must do its share to reduce the global emissions of greenhouse gases. California is the world's 12th largest source of such pollutants.
But the governor has taken a pro-business approach, seeking to address the concerns of industries that would be asked to make aggressive reductions in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the governor's overtures, the California Chamber of Commerce opposes the bill.
Among the strategies sought by the administration is a requirement that the California Air Resources Board allow for the creation of a market-based system. Such a program would allow business to put emission credits on the open market for other companies to buy, sell or trade in exchange for reducing their own emissions.
Democrats have been skeptical, saying an emissions-trading market may be impossible to monitor if it involves industrial plants in other states or countries.
There is nothing "pro-business" about this regulation, except for those who want
to make money off the cap-and-trade scheme which adds absoltuely zero value.
Insanity.
I think a 25% reduction in employment ought to do the trick...
The only way to stop this nonsense, as the electorate is too apathetic to get rid of the offending legislators, is to use a proposition to overturn it.
So far, the electorate is still able to focus on a proposition.
If Arnold is doing this to California, just think how much more Angelides would do! Perhaps I should vote for Angelides for the good of the country! If he wins maybe all the liberal nutcases will leave the other 49 states to come to California and then the other 49 states will have an easier time electing conservatives!
I wonder if this had anyting to do with some of the Japanese automakers moving their U.S. headquarters to places like Tennessee? And I guess that will kill natural gas power plants in California. But, once all industry is gone, then maybe, they will address illegal immigration. By kicking them out of the state, CO2 emmissions from breathing, the only significantly remaining source of CO2, can be reduced. And to think California can reduce global warming by about 0.0001'C over a hundred years! We might, by then, be able to actually measure such an average temperature variation without interference from other factors!
They won't stop until Californians are living in the stone age......no electricity and no heat.
My electric bill was over $600 last month and there is an 8% raise going into effect in September and another one in January. Guess I will have to turn my air conditioner off and just die in 113 degree heat. That should make them happy.
They are all bastids!
this nonsense will spread to other states now - the same way the CA auto emissions regulations have spread to 5 other states.
I can see new york state under Spitzer, passing a similar law. same with NJ under Corzine, etc.
(No more Olmert! No more Kadima! No more Oslo! )
Junk science breeds junk laws written by junk politicians.
IDIOTS! IDIOTS! IDIOTS!
Just as we are getting more news that the earth may be entering into a COLD PERIOD.
It focuses mainly on decreasing CO2 emissions but does not mention the other obvious half of any solution: increasing CO2 consumption. If some of that carbon emission tax money went to carbon consumption businesses there would be technology development in this area, driving down the cost of converting CO2 back into hydrocarbons, alcohol, oxygen, and hydrogen gas.
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