Posted on 03/17/2005 8:27:28 AM PST by NormsRevenge
RANCHO CORDOVA – With opposition growing among Democrats statewide, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger moved yesterday to shore up his environmental credentials by touting the reinstatement of a program to take older, polluting autos off the road.
With a Sacramento-area auto yard as the backdrop, Schwarzenegger announced the state is again – because of Democratic legislation – offering $1,000 to car owners who voluntarily retire older vehicles that cannot meet the state's smog-control standards.
The goal is to take as many as 15,000 high-polluting vehicles off the road annually over the next 10 years.
"This will pay big dividends for California," the Republican governor said at a news conference. "Clean air makes our state a more desirable place to live, visit or locate a business."
The buyback program was suspended two years ago for budget reasons but was re-established in September after the passage of a bill by then-Assemblywoman Hannah-Beth Jackson, D-Santa Barbara.
Although her bill provided $4.5 million this year for incentive payments, Schwarzenegger said he wants to increase the program's funding in 2005-06 to $16.3 million.
The governor noted in his press materials yesterday that his support of the auto buyback program is just one area in which he's worked to protect the environment.
He's called for the creation of a network of hydrogen fuel stations along major California highways. He signed bills last year that would allow hybrid vehicles to use freeway car pool lanes; replace old diesel engines in school buses with new cleaner-burning engines; require cars built after 1975 to have smog checks every two years; and require that trucks coming into California from Mexico meet U.S. clean air standards.
Each of the bills he touted was authored by Democrats and passed despite substantial opposition from Schwarzenegger's Republican colleagues. Nevertheless, the governor has largely received good marks for his environmental record.
The governor's news conference came as labor groups and education activists prepared for a major protest at a Schwarzenegger fund-raiser last night in Los Angeles. The opposition has been sparked by several of the governor's proposals – including ballot measures that would shift the state's public pension program to private retirement accounts and would potentially cut funding for schools when tax income does not meet budget needs.
He has also been the target of protest from the California Nurses Association for attempting to block a nurse-to-patient ratio law.
Given the growing protest from the state's majority party, some Democrats said they are not surprised Schwarzenegger wants to remind voters of his environmental record.
"If the Democrats in the Legislature are so bad, why is he taking our bills and making them part of his platform?" asked Steve Maviglio, spokesman for Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez, D-Los Angeles.
"It's because his poll numbers are caving among Democrats and independents – people who also support environmental issues," Maviglio said.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today launched the Breathe Easier public awareness campaign, focused on the connection between high polluting vehicles and negative health effects, particularly on children.
"Our goal today is to get the word out about the harmful effects of smog and ask people to get their high polluting cars off the road. Every time we terminate even one of them we take another step toward cleaner air and protecting our environment," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "This pays big dividends for California. Clean air makes our state a more desirable place to live, visit or to locate a business. It helps pump up our economy and it's good for the health of everyone in our golden state."
I wish I had a video cam with the other day ,, saw a car coming the opposite direction on the freeway, looked like a mosquito fogger at a drivein (aRnoid connection), the smoke was so thick,,
how the heck it was even allowed on any street is beyond me.. but I don;t see them any where near as often as I used to..
I smell more hype hype hype..
How am I supposed to replace my old junker for $1,000? Would simply have to buy another one at that price.
BTT!!!!!!
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