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Howie didn't do it!He has an alibi.

[[[[[[Bureaucrats, Politicians & Sport Utility Vehicles By Senator Ray Haynes May 3, 2002:

Our state is facing a $22 billion deficit. That is a fact. It is an ever-present fact in Sacramento. So, what do you think the politicians and bureaucrats in Sacramento are worrying about?

That's right, global warming and SUVs. Those are the big issues; ones that required the Legislature to act immediately, with unbelievable speed.

Just a few weeks ago, AB 1058 was a bad idea languishing about the Legislature, based on an obscure report in the California Air Resources Board (CARB) calling for more taxes and regulations on cars to curb greenhouse gases. In a very short period of time, it was rushed through Assembly and Senate Committees with lightening speed, and looks like it will be on the Governor's desk soon. A solution to the budget deficit however is languishing in legislative limbo. I don't mean to give those who stay up nights worrying about global warming the feeling that I don't care about them, I do.

The earth may be getting warmer. We really don't know yet. When I was in high school, the Chicken Littles of our society were clucking about global cooling, the coming ice age.

They found out that the West Anarctic Ice Sheet was getting thicker, and were sure the new ice age was coming (it is still getting thicker, by the way.

The Anarctic area is getting cooler, and has been since the mid-1960's). They changed their tune in the eighties to complain about global warming and greenhouse gases (the Anarctic cooling notwithstanding). Many in the scientific community, however, think this warming is a natural occurring phenomenon. We know there was a significant warming trend, very similar to what is occurring now, around 800 to 1000 AD. There were, however, no SUVs then. Something was producing greenhouse gases then but it wasn't cars. All in all, it seems that the earth got warm, got cool, and now is getting warm again, all on its own.

Even assuming, however, that people have so much impact that their behavior can alter the amazing balance that nature seems to strike on its own, AB 1058 won't even put a small dent in the problem of greenhouse gases.

CARB's report suggested the following: A. Raising taxes on gasoline by fifty cents a gallon;

B. Taxing the miles you drive at two cents per mile;

C. Raising taxes on SUVs and minivans by $3500;

D. Reducing the speed limit to 55 miles per hour (again); and

E. Requiring everybody to have a "tire check" certification, much like a smog check today.

With all of that, it would only reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by Californians by less than one-tenth of one percent, a very expensive proposition for a very small benefit.

In the end, AB 1058 is just another manifestation of the arrogance of the political class in Sacramento. They just don't like the fact that you like minivans and SUVs.

They don't like the fact that they have this large deficit, a very real threat to the power of politicians, and that you might blame them for that. They want to make it look like they are dealing with a threat to your life, global warming, even though that threat is remote at best and a figment of the imagination of some wacko enviro at worst. In the end, they just want to increase their power at your expense.

If you feel like I do, I would encourage everyone to contact the Governor's office, and let him know you oppose this bill, and urge him to veto it. Maybe if they fixed the budget crisis first, and then worried about global warming, nature would step in and fix the global warming problem on its own, as it has over the last several million years.

Then again, given the enormity of the budget problem, it may not get fixed until the next ice age either.

OTHER PROPOSED TAX INCREASES

In addtion to the above attempt to raise your taxes and fees, the Legislature is contemplating the following bills to increase your tax burden. I would urge you to contact your respective Legislators, as well as the Governor and let them know that you don't want any more tax increases. We need to cut spending.

AB 1753, (Migden) - Vehicle License Tax Increase. Our car license fees were reduced by 67.5%, and the lost revenue was back-filled by the State to local governments. In effect, a tax cut. Because of the current budget deficit, this bill was introduced to eliminate the offset, which would exempt the state from back-filling the money, posing a financial hardship on local governments.

It is expected that this bill will be used as a vehicle to reinstitute the full car tax. Assembly Revenue and Tax Committee.

AB 2682 (Chu) SB 1994 (Soto): Fuel Taxes: Increases fuel prices by imposing a $.30/barrel fee/tax on crude oil refined in this state. Assembly Enviro Safety & Toxic Materials Committee.

SB 657 (Scott) and AB 1122 (Corbett), A New Withholding Tax: While both bills conform state law to federal law (EGTRRA), allowing for increased contributions to tax-deferred retirement plans (which will reduce state revenues by $50 million), they are eliminating a number of existing corporate deductions, and increasing the withholding and estimated tax payments rate (80% to 90%) which will take more state taxes out of your paycheck earlier, allowing the state to collect additional interest. These changes will result in collections of $189 million..

SB 657 Senate 3rd Reading. AB 1122 Assembly 3rd Reading

SB 1255 (Burton) Higher Income Taxes: Increases the top income tax rate from 9.3 percent to 11 percent. Senate Revenue and Tax. ]]]]

There are dozens more folks!!!!!!!here