CA: Motorist fee increases signed by governor (It's not a TAX, it's a FEE increase. Thx Gubinator!)

LA Times ^ | 10/15/07 | Patrick McGreevy

[shorty_harris]

Schwarzenegger also signed what became known as the "toxic toys" bill, which makes California the first state to prohibit the use of chemical compounds called phthalates in products designed for children under 3 years old.

I don't get this one. Is this intended for California manufacturers of children's products/toys? Are there even any left? I thought we imported most of these kinds of products (most of them laced with lead)?

[steve86]

$36 every 2 years registration,no smog checks,.

Surprised that AZ doesn't have smog checks. We don't have them (yet) in SE Washington State, but Phoenix could certainly use them at times. I sometimes don't buy the tabs for a vehicle (and don't drive it much) to save the $45 fees. Maybe that's why the pothole in front of my house isn't fixed yet.

[numberonepal]

Commie is as a commie does. He may not have been accepted into the “club”, but it doesn’t mean he has to enact communist legislation.

[telebob]

"Consumer advocates condemned the bill for putting the costs on the backs of motorists rather than oil companies."

I don't care who you are...now that's funny!

[Bogeygolfer]

‘If you GOP and conservative voters of Ca vote again for this quisling then you deserve everything that you get.
The first time was totally understandable, but we all know exactly what this guy is now.
For Christ’s sake, even if you had Bustamonte, you could lay the blame for the fallout,’

That is not realistic or true. I may despise Arnold but Bustamante would be far far worse. I’m not interested in having somewhere to lay the blame. If you think we can blame the Dems and somehow reclaim CA you obviously don’t live here. Given the choice between the two today, I’d pull the lever again.
To give you an idea of what it’s like to live here I’m applauding the car tax idea. I accept as a given our taxes will continue to rise, at least until we’re shocked back to reality, so I’m going to just be happy with a relatively flat tax.

[sasafras]

AZ does have them (smogchecks), but only if your car is registered in the two counties with the highest population, Maricopa (Phoenix) and Pima (tucson).

[glide625]

Thanks; sounds like the crazies took over the asylum!

[bobsatwork]

First time I bought a car here in “zero sales tax” Delaware, I was surprised to see an item on the final bill of sale that was nearly $1,000. It was a “Documentation Fee”, not ever to be confused with a “tax”. It is a percentage of the sales price of the car, and sure does FEEL LIKE a sales tax.

[El Sordo]

While I would agree with that, if the GOP did indeed not forge strong ties with the Governor it is not surprising the the Dems would and would then have a greater influence.

[Leftism is Mentally Deranged]

Whenever government makes you pay, it’s a tax.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

However, I wonder this: It seemed like the GOP bigwigs in CA never really took to Arnold. That they kind of left him out of their clique.

If this is the case, and he instead became closer to Dem lawmakers,

It's more a matter of the California GOP being so weak that Arnold couldn't accomplish anything with their help alone. And after all of his ballot initiatives got shot down, his choices became either go along with the democratic agenda and get what he could, or get run over by it and get nothing.

[numberonepal]

if the GOP did indeed not forge strong ties with the Governor

They prolly saw the writing on the wall from the beginning. It was too good to be true.

[B4Ranch]

It’s time for you to SELL that 2nd pollution producing automobile that you own! Show some compassion and sell it to someone who doesn’t speak English. If you want to be real nice, don’t demand cash, take a check.

[Myrddin]

I wish it was that easy. I took the car to the best Porsche mechanics (remaining) in San Diego. There are few who can still properly service a 1974 914. After 3 weeks of "tinkering" as time was available, my car emerged from the shop. It was running just fine and easily passed the test. I decided to sell it 6 months later. Alas, I had to have a fresh smog certificate. I figured that wouldn't be a problem. Wrong. The bonehead at the smog shop didn't know a 914 from an old shoe. He did the test incorrectly, failed the car and transmitted the failure to the DMV. I paid $65 for his screw up and still didn't have a good certificate. My car was also now identified as having "failed" the test. I just put it on a carrier and transported to the house in Pocatello. No more money for smog tests. It's stored in the garage until I have the time/inclination to work on it again.

It's likely to end up a charitable donation just to clear the space in the garage. It's a great summer car, but not a good choice after the temperatures drop much below 50 degrees.

[Lancey Howard]

....that is intended to raise millions to develop alternative fuel and clean-air technology.

LOL, in other words, "thrown down the toilet of government grants, studies, commissions, and kickbacks."
At least the talk of amending the Constitution so this liberal scumbag can run for President has stopped. Whew!

[calcowgirl]

http://gov.ca.gov/index.php?/press-release/7711/

10/14/2007 GAAS:815:07 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation to Protect Children from Toxic Toys

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation to protect the health of our state’s children by prohibiting the use of phthalates in toys and childcare products designed for babies and children under three years of age.

“We must take this action to protect our children,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “These chemicals threaten the health and safety of our children at critical stages of their development.”

AB 1108 by Assemblymember Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco) will protect the health of our state’s children by preventing exposure to toxic chemicals. Specifically, this bill will prohibit the manufacturing, sale and distribution of toys and child care products intended for use by children under the age of three that contain phthalates. Scientific research has shown that these chemicals have a number of negative health effects, including links to cancer and reproductive defects.

Led by the Secretary for Environmental Protection, the Governor has called for the establishment of a Green Chemistry Initiative to develop policy options for implementing green chemistry policies. Instead of making chemical policy through the legislature on a case by case basis, the goal of this initiative is to work with scientists from California and around the world to evaluate the health effects of chemicals and possible alternatives in a comprehensive manner.

“A comprehensive and unified approach is needed to ensure good accountable policy and I encourage the legislature and all interested parties to participate in the development of this important initiative,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger.

[ErnBatavia]

even if you had Bustamonte, you could lay the blame for the fallout, sky high taxes, fees, and other costs squarely on the liberal trash that infests that state

Taking it one step back, that's why I was adamantly against the recall of Davis in the first place....I'd have preferred having him stew in the juice of his own's making.

As it is, California's current problems will be viewed as "under the Republicans".

[calcowgirl]

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/07-08/bill/asm/ab_0101-0150/ab_118_bill_20070926_enrolled.html

AB 118, Nunez. Alternative fuels and vehicle technologies:
               funding programs.

(snip)

   The bill would create the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and
Vehicle Technology Program, to be administered by the Energy
Commission, to provide, upon appropriation by the Legislature,
grants, loans, loan guarantees, revolving loans, or other appropriate
measures, to public agencies, businesses and projects,
public-private partnerships, vehicle and technology consortia,
workforce training partnerships and collaboratives, fleet owners,
consumers, recreational boaters, and academic institutions to develop
and deploy innovative technologies that transform California's fuel
and vehicle types to help attain the state's climate change policies.

   The bill would create the Alternative and Renewable Fuel and
Vehicle Technology Fund (Alternative Fund), and would require the
Energy Commission to expend the moneys in the Alternative Fund, upon
appropriation by the Legislature, to implement the Alternative and
Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program. The bill would require
$10,000,000 to be transferred annually to the Alternative Fund from
the Public Interest Research, Development, and Demonstration Fund.

   The bill would also create the Air Quality Improvement Program, to
be administered by the State Air Resources Board, to fund air
quality improvement projects, upon appropriation by the Legislature,
relating to fuel and vehicle technologies. The bill would create the
Air Quality Improvement Fund, and would require the state board to
expend the moneys in that fund, upon appropriation by the
Legislature, to implement the Air Quality Improvement Program.

(snip)

   This bill would create an enhanced fleet modernization program for
the retirement of high polluting vehicles to be administered by the
Bureau of Automotive Repair pursuant to guidelines adopted by the
state board. The bill would create the Enhanced Fleet Modernization
Subaccount in the High Polluter Removal and Repair Account to
establish and implement this enhanced program, upon appropriation by
the Legislature.

   (3) The bill, beginning July 1, 2008, until January 1, 2016, would
increase vehicle registration fees from $31 to $34, vessel
registration fees from $10 to $20 and from $20 to $40, as applicable,
and specified service fees for identification plates from $15 to
$20. The bill would require the additional revenue generated by those
fee increases to be deposited in the Alternative and Renewable Fuel
and Vehicle Technology Fund, the Air Quality Improvement Fund, and
the Enhanced Fleet Modernization Subaccount, as provided.

   The bill beginning July 1, 2008, until January 1, 2016, would also
increase smog abatement fees from $12 to $20, and would require1/2
of the additional revenue generated by that fee increase to be
deposited in the Air Quality Improvement Fund and the other1/2 of
that additional revenue to be deposited in the Alternative and
Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Fund.

[Bubba Ho-Tep]

I thought you didn’t need a smog cert on anything older than 1975.

[bill1952]

Given the choice between the two today, I’d pull the lever again.

To give you an idea of what it’s like to live here I’m applauding the car tax idea. I accept as a given our taxes will continue to rise

You are the exact problem, as far as I am concerned.

at least until we’re shocked back to reality,

Right. - What will that take?
Really, because until you actually get rid of that laudable, if not laughable approach, then all of that that they can do to you is what you will get, and you are the exact type of republican that I posted about.

You have fun paying every tax, fee, and cost, and make damn sure that you pull that lever again. - with a smile to match mine - as I stay far away from that state!

just don't migrate here with that mindset when it all turns to crap