With a map like this, is it any wonder that AB32 doesn’t make any sense right now?
From the Grass Valley Union
A plan to block a law cutting state greenhouse gas emissions until the economy rebounds looks likely to make the Nov. 2 ballot.
Monday, members of the California Jobs Initiative Coalition turned in more than 800,000 signatures of registered voters to qualify — nearly twice the number needed.
The initiative was started by Assemblyman Dan Logue, R-Linda, who represents Nevada County in the Third Assembly District.
“We only needed 440,000” signatures Logue said. “People realize we need to protect and bring jobs to California. We’re going to give working families of California a break until we recover economically.”
If the California Jobs Initiative does qualify the ballot as expected, voters will be asked to consider putting the brakes on the nation’s most far-reaching global warming law. Oil companies have paid about $700,000 to fund the campaign.
The initiative would suspend stringent greenhouse gas emission standards set by legislators in AB32, a bill passed in 2006. The suspension would last until California unemployment levels dip to 5.5 percent and stay there for one full year.
The state jobless rate was at 12.6 percent in March; it hasn’t been at 5.5 percent since September 2007, according to U.S. Department of Labor statistics.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger immediately blasted “greedy oil companies” for trying to set back his sweeping environmental policy through funding Logue’s initiative.
A number of business groups warned that regulations enacting the law would cost jobs and prompt billions of dollars in higher energy prices. John Kabateck, executive director of the National Federation of Business California, said that’s a cost businesses cannot shoulder as they struggle in a weak economy.
“While the goals of AB32 are admirable, clearly the implementation of this at this time … would be a death knell for many small businesses,” Kabateck said at a news conference.
Schwarzenegger vowed to fight the initiative if it qualifies for the ballot.
More at the Grass Valley Union
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In other news: George Shultz to co-chair campaign opposing AB32
The Sac Bee has the story:
Former U.S. Secretary of State George P. Shultz has signed on as honorary co-chair of Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs, a coalition opposing a proposed ballot measure to suspend the implementation of AB32, California’s landmark law to lower greenhouse gas emissions.
Shultz, a prominent Republican, said in a statement that the proposed initiative would derail “California’s innovative effort to stimulate movement toward a cleaner and more secure energy future.”
Full story here. h/t to Russ Steele
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Yahoo News has a AP story about the most and least economically stressed counties in the United States. California has 12 of the 20 most economically stressed and none in the least stressed category. Most of the Counties are in California’s Agricultural Bread Basket. Where are all those green jobs?
Here are the 20 most economically stressed counties with populations of at least 25,000 and their March 2010 Stress scores, according to The Associated Press Economic Stress Index:
1. Imperial County, Calif., 31.27
2. Merced County, Calif., 28.29
3. Lyon County, Nev., 27.96
4. San Benito County, Calif., 27.2
5. Sutter County, Calif., 26.41
6. Yuba County, Calif., 25.8
7. Stanislaus County, Calif., 25.46
8. Iosco County, Mich., 24.89
9. San Joaquin County, Calif., 24.78
10. Nye County, Nevada., 24.19
11. Lapeer County, Mich., 24.03
12. Cheboygan County, Mich., 23.89
13. Luna County, N.M., 23.82
14. Lake County, Calif., 23.78
15. Kern County, Calif., 23.62
16. Tulare County, Calif., 23.17
17. Madera County, Calif., 23.04
18. Fresno County, Calif., 22.72
19. Clark County, Nevada, 22.65
20. Boone County, Ill., 22.59
Complete list is here. Again a h/t to Russ Steele
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That map shows change you can believe in.
…AB32 doesn’t make any sense right now.
When would it make any sense?
Who knew that going green really meant going red?
Don’t know how true this is but it’s from the comments in the link and it doesn’t sound too far-fetched:
The California Central Valley accounts for quite a few of the top 20. It is severely stressed due to the cutoff of water Sacramento River “required” due to a lawsuit by the environmental lobby to help a fish — the Delta smelt — of no particular significance. In order to fluff the smelt’s habitat, valuable Sacramento River water flows out into the ocean instead of being used where it is severely needed — and has previously been used for decades — in the San Joaquin Valley.
I will tell you something you do not have heard up there yet. About two weeks ago I heard the world known economist Hernando De Soto, saying, that the real figures of unemployment in the USA were the double of the official ones. So, if that is true, just look around and enjoy living in a progressive paradise. (BTW, we have already lived that when subjected to tests promoted by the Carnegie and Ford foundations, back in the 1960’s an 70’s)
“That map shows change you can believe in.”
Yes indeed.
This is what confounding GG with climate change and pollution get you….confusion, inefficiency and expense.
Clearly, if only mis-guided and altruistic, the proponents of such action will be (relatively) quick to change tack and approach the problem sensibly. Those with agendas or those with predisposition (if big oil can work against this then big-finance can work for it…) to continue will do what they can to steer us on this course for disaster.
Money makes our world go around but the world knows how to turn on it’s own. The world climate is separate from the biosphere as far as our presence in it is concerned. We need a healthy environment to prosper, both ecological as well as financial. Too many agendas and not enough knowledge (being proposed and accepted).
Keep plugging away, as persistence pays (financially too).
Thanks for reminding me why I always hated George Shultz, a “prominent Republican” who was exactly the kind of Republican that got them thrown out of power in the last 2 elections. Give him and his type the right level of contribution and they’ll sign any piece of paper that gets shoved in front of him – who cares about those poor schlubs without jobs? Let’s just tell them to think happy thoughts and eat cake, that’ll work!
And thankfully Schwarzeneggers political career is within a few months of being over for good.
Common sense is starting to prevail. People are sick and tired of the fear-mongering and just want to focus on basics (jobs, jobs, jobs). Any congressperson that doesn’t get that will be slaughtered come November. Even the most ardent alarmists I know identify the economy as job no. 1.
and isn’t it hilarious how on that chart Green (Green is Good, right???) is ANYTHING less than 10%??? Hey wow, unemployment is only 10%, we are doin’ GREAT, guys!!!
http://images.clipartof.com/small270/12207-Caricature-Of-Arnold-Schwarzenegger-As-A-Girly-Man-Wearing-A-Pink-Dress-With-White-Polka-Dots-And-His-Hair-Up-In-Pig-Tails-Poster-Art-Print.jpg
California always sets the trends for the country.
Obviously Schwartzenegger has lost touch with reality–too many make-believe movies, not enough science. The opposition to repeal of his Woo-woo-land law? They call themselves: “Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs,” a blatant misrepresentation. They should be called “Leftists for Skyrocketing Energy Prices and Plunging Employment.”
California voted for green jobs. Looks like they got red.
Glad to see it make the ballot
This will make at least one item I can fell good about voting for.
God knows I do not feel that way about any of the people likely to be on the top to the ticket for either of the main parties.
With Obama revealed as cap and trade corrupt!
Where are the protests? The hearings? The investigations?. Has the American people lost all dignity and fighting spirit? Im really surprised that the “guts and glory” seems to be history? The American working guy is the one whos gonna transfer his earnings into the pockets of the Al Gore/Green capitalist mob. Dont you understand whats happening! This is not the time to be polite now its time to kick…….!
I normally refrain from commenting on what happens in places that I don’t live. California society probably displays the greatest range of social and political hypocrisy and contrasts imaginable. Probably because it is a highly diverse and dynamic society. California is also the home of fantasy land and from Calgary, looking at news reports, it appears most of its citizens live in it. All winter long I get my strawberries from California and I like strawberries but I do have a price margin resistance point. As long as they can keep those illegals employed picking them, so us smug Canadians can afford to keep eating them, they should be polity ignored by the rest of us. Hum, Scrips in is California, isn’t it.
Slabadang
Had Bush made a speech about “safe offshore oil” three weeks before the Gulf spill, the press would have crucified him and hounded him out of office.
Obama gets a free pass with this screw up, just like all the rest of them.
Very glad this got on the ballot with 800k signatures is just amazing. I’ll definately be spreading the word.
I’m waiting for the proponants of AB32 to start advertising against this bill. Wonder how they’ll try to paint the picture.
Now a commercial message from Green Tech Action Fund, Environmental Defense Fund and the Natural Resources Defense Council Action Fund California Ballot Measures Committee. FPPC ID # 1324059
Stop the Texas oil companies’ dirty energy proposition.
There are little minions of the enviro lobby out on the strees of SF, LA, SD, and Sac, handing out bumperstickers preaching hate on Valero.
I want you to remember when it comes time to fill up,
Valero stands in the face of the storm.
Valero stood with you when Chevron, PG&E, and BP, were tap dancing down the path of least resistance with Michael Mann, Jim Hansen, Al Gore.
This is exactly why it is important that the states have crafted their own envirionmental and health care policies, so that people can move out!
Oregon is California’s Mini Me- everything they do we try to copy. Hmm this is encouraging…
Environmental rules can really cause problems. Does anyone remember the uproar last year about farmers in CA being cutoff from there water supply because of a minnow? I don’t know if that was ever resolved, but talk about a major hit to the livelihoods of people who feed us. I mean a MINNOW! Come on!
I’m sure there are many horror stories out there like this one with more to come.
Love cali thought, we’ll wait for the economy to recover before we kill it permanently. But I thought we created lots of jobs by “going green”? Higher energy prices? Isn’t the wind free? WUWT???? You mean it doesn’t really work like that? WUWT???
Spain leads with 20% unemployment. California is lagging. Of course the green jobs are the big joke. They don’t want just any old jobs. Green jobs or no jobs.
There are many things aovernment can do to choke employment. There ae fery few things than can do to create growth in the private sector. Most they can do is stop interfering and taxing or punishing employment growth.
Hmmm.
So the powers that be admit that this is a job-killer. I’m really hoping Californians, and our respective Federal and other State governments can put two-and-two together.