It just never ends…
I read an article recently that explained why our state and nation are in debt and businesses are failing and people are losing jobs. It did so in plain, simple, non partisan-gasp- English. Essentially, the people we have elected into office want us to be. They set the budget, they pass the laws that create regulations, these things don’t just magically appear. We need to elect people that don’t think this is the way to operate. Here is an example of one, do you know any others?
This article was excerpted from Senator Mimi Walters’ newsletter. Senator Walters is running for Treasurer in November and has earned my vote. Please consider giving her yours… My Best, Mary
“Stop the Madness”
“California’s jobless rate is the third highest in the nation. Our tax burden is the highest in the nation. Our permitting process is a nightmare. Lawsuits are killing California jobs.
Just when you would think our policy-makers have done enough to drive the state’s economy to the worst in the nation, they’re using the SB 375 implementation to go even further. You may recall that SB 375 was designed to merge regional planning with greenhouse gas (GhG) reduction goals. Even though some of us opposed the bill, we hoped the process would be fair and that the goals of economic growth and emission reduction would be pursued equally. But, the proposed emission reduction target levels issued by the California Air Resources Board (CARB) demonstrate, again, that elitists have taken over the policy–making and are developing massive new regulatory programs to serve their interests.
What are the SB 375 emission reduction targets for Southern California? The Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), which is the metropolitan planning organization representing six counties, 190 cities and more than 19 million residents, recommended a realistic target range of 6–8% for 2020 and 3–6% for 2035. Somehow CARB staff disregarded this recommendation and instead proposed completely unrealistic targets that were not even discussed or modeled. The CARB staff recommended raising the levels to 8% for 2020 and 13% for 2035. The problem with SCAG and CARB setting unachievable levels is that extraordinary measures will have to be taken to even come close to achieving these goals.
- Count on reduced employment in Southern California. That’s not a typo – the SCAG scenario assumes a loss of jobs and continuing recession to reduce emissions.
- Dedicate more tax dollars to mass transit. With state and federal governments already running huge deficits, we know whose wallet and purse SCAG and CARB will be grabbing to pay for these new projects. The new funding needs will be in addition to the $40 billion the public will be shelling–out to pay for high speed rail.
- Force people from their cars to biking and walking.
- Gas price increases up to $9.07 a gallon. The analysis indicated that drivers will finally give up their cars if the price of fuel is raised high enough.
- Congestion fees for driving in urban areas.
- Mandatory parking fees to reduce traffic in cities.
Get involved. Call the CARB members. Demand a balanced approach that encourages job creation. Make these decision–makers explain the rationale and the implications of their decision. Stop the madness that is ruining this state.”
