Posted by Todd Wilson on Wednesday, May 08, 2002 at 11:04AM :
ANyone out that way know about this? Is it true or not? Seems rather steep to me!
Todd
> CA4WDC JOINS NEW COALITION TO FIGHT ASSEMBLY BILL 1058
>
> Bill would impose Extra Fees on Minivans, Light Duty Trucks, And
> Sport Utility Vehicles to Discourage Consumers from Buying Them
>
> The California Association of Four Wheel Drive Clubs has joined
> a new coalition of taxpayers, organized labor, motorists, large and
> small businesses, agriculture and others in branding Assembly Bill 1058
> as an open-ended attack on California consumers.
> In a campaign that started on April 23, the coalition declares
> that AB 1058 is a vague, extreme measure that would give broad new
> powers to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) to reduce carbon
> dioxide emissions from vehicle exhaust. Carbon dioxide, an inert gas
> that humans exhale, trees and plans absorb to produce oxygen, and does
> not contribute to air pollution, is considered a contributor to global
> warning.
> The bill already has come under fire for failing to specify how
> CARB would accomplish this goal, particularly since no practical,
> affordable technology exists that would eliminate carbon dioxide from
> vehicle exhaust.
> "As all of you know, our association is very careful to pick and
> choose its issues and battles," said association president David
> Douglas. "In this case, we have joined the coalition as AB 1058 lets
> CARB develop sweeping programs that could dramatically increase of
> purchasing and driving vehicles in California. It would limit consumer
> choice by significantly increasing the cost of the larger, more powerful
> vehicles they want to buy and force all drivers to pay much more in the
> form of gas taxes and mileage fees."
>
> CARB has already suggested some of these alternatives in a joint
> report with the California Energy Commission. The report, issued in
> March, specifically lists several strategies to reduce fuel consumption
> and emissions like carbon dioxide. These included: * Another
> 50-cents-per-gallon increase in gasoline taxes. * A two-cents tax on
> every mile driven for all passenger vehicles. * Extra fees of $3,500
> on minivans, light duty trucks, and sport utility vehicles to discourage
> consumers from buying them. * Reducing the speed limit to 55 miles
> per hour.
> Larry McCarthy, president of the California Taxpayers
> Association added that, "this measure is threatening to California
> taxpayers because it empowers a state agency to become a strong
> advocate of substantial tax increases. This bill will have a major
> negative impact on California's economy, taxpayers and consumers."
> The coalition advertising campaign against AB 1058 encourages
> concerned Californians to communicate their opposition to their state
> elected officials by calling a toll-free telephone number,
> 1-800-988-2588, or 1-800-988-2587 for Spanish-speaking callers. A
> Website, www.wedrive.org, also has been established to help people
> contact their elected officials.
> In addition to the California Association of Four Wheel Drive
> Clubs, the coalition includes the California Chamber of Commerce, the
> United Auto Works, The California Manufacturers and Technology
> Association, The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, the California
> Motor Car Dealer Association, the California Building Industry
> Association, the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association, the
> California Farm Bureau Federation, the Specialty Vehicle Market
> Association, the California Highway Users Conference, and the California
> Taxpayers Association.
>
> If we are to stop this bill in the Assembly, you MUST call the
> Democrat Assemblymembers listed below. They are our only hope to
> kill this bill before it gets to the Governor.
>
> Please act today or we all lose.
>
> District/Party Name Phone Region (County)
> AD 58 (D) Thomas Calderon (916) 319-2058 Los Angeles
> AD 11 (D) Joe Canciamilla (916) 319-2011 Contra Costa AD
> 26 (D) Dennis Cardoza (916) 319-2026 Merced, San
> Joaquin, Stanislaus AD 57 (D) Ed Chavez (916)
> 319-2057 Los Angeles AD 49 (D) Judy Chu
> (916) 319-2049 Los Angeles AD 24 (D) Rebecca Cohn (916)
> 319-2024 Santa Clara AD 69 (D) Lou Correa (916) 319-2069
> Orange AD 23 (D) Manny Diaz (916) 319-2023 Santa Clara AD 50
> (D) Marco Firebaugh (916) 319-2050 Los Angeles AD 30 (D)
> Dean Florez (916) 319-2030 Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera AD 43
> (D) Dario Frommer (916) 319-2043 Los Angeles AD 76 (D)
> Christina Kehoe (916) 319-2076 San Diego AD 17 (D)
> Barbara Matthews (916) 319-2017 San Joaquin AD 61 (D)
> Gloria Negrete McLeod (916) 319-2061 Los Angeles, San Bernardino AD 55
> (D) Jenny Oropezo (916) 319-2055 Los Angeles AD 75 (D)
> Simon Salinas (916) 319-2075 Monterey, San Beneto, Santa
> Cruz AD 21 (D) Joe Simitian (916) 319-2021 San Mateo,
> Santa Clara AD 79 (D) Juan Vargas (916) 319-2079 San Diego
>
> --
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