Gov. Gray Davis to sign Strict Emissions Law

The Sacramento Bee ^ | 07/22/2002 | Chris Bowman

[heleny]

it broadens the scope of vehicle emissions regulation beyond pollutants shown to cause direct harm to people, such as cancer-causing diesel soot and smog.
The "greenhouse gas" bill before Davis targets carbon dioxide, methane and other auto emissions that are not hazardous to breathe but are believed by most scientists to trap the Earth's heat

Diesel cars generate much less smog, carbon dioxide, and methane per mile than gasoline cars.

Although diesel exhaust without filters (like old buses) may generate black particulate soot, which may contribute to "global warming" more than carbon dioxide, the AB1493 bill that Davis signed apparently concerns only harmless, odorless carbon dioxide and methane exhaust.

To reduce the emissions of those gases, diesel engines are logical replacements for gasoline; some large SUV's and light trucks already use diesel engines to reduce fuel tank size and to increase fuel economy.

I hope we don't get hit with huge class-action lawsuits in the future for the second-hand carcinogenic emissions of the increased number of diesel cars.

[heleny]

legislators in CA get free cars (paid for by the taxpayers)

Yes, we pay for their car loan/lease payments, up to a cap ($500/month). Their gas and other living expenses might also be subsidized for some trips. The most popular vehicle the legislators choose is an SUV -- I think it's a Ford Explorer or Ford Expedition -- and very few choose sedans (most of which are full-size cars with lower fuel efficiency anyway). Those who voted for AB1493 appear very hypocritical.

[jragan2001]

BOYCOTT KALIFORNIA AND ITS LEFT WING LOONY NUTS AND
PUT A HUGE FENCE AROUND THAT STATE!!