California: Legislature OKs curbs on auto emissions (CA to fight global warming single-handedly)

Orange Country Register ^ | July 2, 2002

[John Jorsett]

SACRAMENTO -- The Assembly handed automakers a major defeat Monday, passing - by a single vote - a bill to make California the first state to target auto emissions in the fight against global warming.

The 41-30 vote approved Senate amendments to the bill, sending it to Gov. Gray Davis, who earlier this year said he was "committed to do the best we can to get the bill on my desk," although he stopped short of a formal endorsement.

[John Jorsett]

Nuts. Forgot CALGOV2002 keyword.

[bvw]

What Califorinia does with auto emissions directly costs everyone in the US -- the manufacturers don't like making a CA-only model, consequently this decision impacts every US car buyer.

If enforced, what it means is smaller cars with less power -- there is no other way to reduce CO while using gasoline.

[John Jorsett]

This measure, AB1058, was fought tooth-and-nail and progress toward passage had ground to a halt. However, the legislature met in weekend session and resurrected it in a new identity as AB1493. On Monday, the legislature literally locked the doors of the chamber during consideration so that the members couldn't go back to their offices to receive the torrent of calls and faxes that were pouring in from furious constituents. The fact that they had to go to such extraordinary lengths for this measure, particularly right now, as the capitol is in the throes of coming up with the overdue budget, ought to be an indication of just how much some people want this. Whatever they say about how it won't lead to new taxes or driving restrictions is a big fat lie. The way in which this bill has been crammed down the throats of Californians is a very very bad sign for what it's going to lead to.

[Minnesoootan]

"We're proud of California's lawmakers who faced down the 'Chicken Littles' in the auto and oil industries," said Russell Long, director of the bill's sponsor, the San Francisco-based environmental group Bluewater Network.

Ummmm,WHAT?...the auto industry is claiming the sky is falling???? Mr. Long needs to look in the mirror!

[First_Salute]

Mom,

Another example of rights we are losing; see FRPR John Jorsett's Reply 4:

"The way in which this bill has been crammed down the throats of Californians is a very very bad sign for what it's going to lead to."

[Sam Cree]

"there is no other way to reduce CO while using gasoline. "

I didn't think there was any way to reduce it. Isn't CO2 a direct result of combustion?

If so, how can it be reduced, short of lessening the combustion, which implies, as you suggest, smaller motors, i.e. smaller explosions in smaller combustion chambers.

Pretty harsh measure, since it appears that mankind's effect on global warming is minimal, anyway.

Perhaps the automakers can comply w/ this by marketing only their smallest cars in CA. Am I right that most of the problems with pollution are centered in LA, with its frequent temperature inversions?

[bvw]

Hey I meant CO2 -- wrote CO. CO is the poison carbon monoxide and that can be reduced. CO2, carbon di-oxide, is non-poisonous and can not be reduced -- it is the final product of combustion.

You can eliminate CO2 only by using a non-carbon fuel, say hydrogen -- burning hydrogen leaves water (and no CO2 of course). But as long as we use gasoline or diesel fuel or propane or natural gas, etc, we can not reduce CO2 without also losing power.

[norton]

L.A. air has gotten reasonably clean over the past too many years.
At least it is not visibly solid as it once was.
Cannot say same for surrounding counties.
I was once told that the whole idea was to get particulate emissions of the proper weight/size so that they'd gain just enough altitude to blow into someone else's back yard.
Since the source of that quote was an air-current expert ('Scientist' by his own admission) I give it some credence.

[Gaston]

"We're proud of California's lawmakers who faced down the 'Chicken Littles' in the auto and oil industries,"

It isn't the auto and oil industries shouting that the sky is getting warmer, the sky is getting warmer.

[Abogado]

It is ironic, but there may be a benifit to this legislation. Logically, auto manufacturer's will have to invest more capital in, and actually make profitable, alternative energy vehicles in order to meet these new design demands. Alternative energy generally means other than oil-based energy systems. Functional, competitive alternative energey systems will likely reduce America's need for oil - which should reduces (eliminate?) our need to deal with (insert name of anti-American Arab country (s) here.
heh

[John Jorsett]

Perhaps the automakers can comply w/ this by marketing only their smallest cars in CA. Am I right that most of the problems with pollution are centered in LA, with its frequent temperature inversions?

This isn't even about pollution. It's about "greenhouse gases". These nuts want California to lead the world in reducing emissions that they claim leads to global warming.

[RWCon]

Maybe Cal should start manufacturing its own cars.

[boris]

The original "proposals" included:

- A 2-cent-per-mile tax on driving;
- A 50-cent-per-gallon gas tax;
- Huge fees on SUVs, pickups, and vans.

They have apparently dropped the gas tax; it is unclear whether they will try to put the 2-cent-per-mile tax in place. Should be interesting...

--Boris

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

You are at it rather early this morning.

calgov2002:

calgov2002: for old calgov2002 articles. 

calgov2002: for new calgov2002 articles. 

Other Bump Lists at: Free Republic Bump List Register

[Charles Martel]

If Davis signs it, it'll be because nobody warned him about the implications of including pickup trucks in the new tax listing. Pickup trucks are used by small businesses, including many minority (Hispanic) businesses. The limousine liberals who live on the coastal plain don't drive such vehicles, but their contractors, plumbers, gardeners (and so on) DO drive them - every day. They have to drive them significant distances from the areas where they can afford to live.

If Davis vetoes it, he'll certainly point to the "working man" angle and shore up his support in the blue-collar community. I suspect that the bill will eventually return as a purchase tax on SUVs only.

[Euro-American Scum]

I suspect that the bill will eventually return as a purchase tax on SUVs only.

Where's Bill Clinton when the soccer moms need him?

[Charles Martel]

Where's Bill Clinton when the soccer moms need him?

According to another current thread, Bill is busy chasing skirts in Australia. So, he's simply following the directives issued by "Little Bill", just like always.

[Swanks]

Ford's got it's luxury unit in Irvine, CA. Lincoln, Jag and Volvo. Why on earth is beyond me.

[Sam Cree]

"that they claim leads to global warming."

My impression is that most of the better scientists in the field disagree with the above...And I notice that science still doesn't understand how to predict tomorrow's weather.