CARB’s Nevada County footprint

George Rebane

Last Friday I attended a forum on California’s toxic business environment, and left stunned.  The forum was held at the behest of Assemblyman Dan Logue as part of his ongoing investigation of why businesses in the state are heading for greener pastures elsewhere.  In attendance at the Rood Center were also Representative Tom McClintock and various Nevada County political leaders.  Testifying was a grim array of the county’s business owners – operational word here is ‘grim’.

RR readers are aware of the coverage I, other local bloggers, and The Union have given the most devastating of the recent legislative bombshells from Sacramento – AB32, the CO2 ball and chain that is now being administered by the California Air Resources Board.  This law and its spawn of regulations will single-handedly keep California permanently in its economic doldrums.

Local leftwing bloggers have done what comes naturally in their coverage of AB32.  The Union has attempted a more ‘balanced account’ of the issue about which there is nothing in balance (their report here).  If you’re a collectivist who sees a happy land after uniformly applied poverty, you will celebrate this latest explosion of government power.  If you’re a free market conservative, especially with a technical or financial background, you see it for the disaster that it is.  And if you’re a consumer of any stripe, stand by for ram – shortages, higher prices, limited choices, permits and fees every time you turn around, … .

And that disaster was described by the local business owners who detailed the specifics of insane equipment replacements, unintended collateral impacts, tax revenue losses, new government handouts, and, of course, mounting job losses.  Local businessman Lowell Robinson even showed off one of CARB’s new gas pump nozzles.  It costs almost $500 and fails hard – it has a nasty habit of not shutting off after your tank is full.

The only job gains seem to be in Sacramento which is hiring a new corps of inspectors and clerks to see that AB32’s statewide regulations are being complied with, and the appropriate reams of paperwork are being regularly submitted.  I guess this is what also counts as ‘creating green jobs’, more government monitors checking everyone for compliance.  In East Germany, the government’s security apparatus finally wound up hiring one sixth of the country’s population – one out of six got a check from the Stasi for keeping an eye on the other five.

My own reporting on AB32 over the past months was a relative puff ball compared to the actual damage the implemented law is doing in our county and across the rest of the state.  The liberal media is, of course, silent.  Considering its flawed technical underpinnings and the insane business practices being imposed, AB32 is a poster child of leftwing garbage legislation.  Dan Logue (Dan@DanLogue.com) is doing more than yeoman’s duty in Sacramento with his work to get the law repealed before California becomes a federal ward (petition here).

Before you call the movers, see what you can do to help the man.

Comments

[Anna Haynes]

George, how did you find out about this meeting? Was it a public meeting, and if so, where was the public invitation?

[Mikey McD]

George, you are on a roll! Favorite 2 lines:"If you’re a collectivist who sees a happy land after uniformly applied poverty, you will celebrate this latest explosion of government power." AND "Before you call the movers, see what you can do to help the man."

[George Rebane]

Anna, I heard about it either from a Tea Party or Dan Logue email announcement. I don't know how the word got out to the NC business people. It appeared to be a public forum, but I would confirm that with Dan Logue's office.

[Russ Steele]

George,

I heard about the meeting from Jeff Ackerman, then from Ellen who though it was mentioned at the Republican Woman's Luncheon. I also got an email notice from Dan's Office. I wrote about it in my Union Column on the 7th and I think there was an article in the Union the same day. I posted a comment on one of the Union Blogs. It was not a secret meeting.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

The reason I come here is you guys are really the poster child for what they want to do nationally - sure sounds like fun. Although us rednecks probably can beat back the locals but the Fed's just use extorsion to get you in line. Its bad out here too for small business - there just isn't much. The Feds killed the mortgage refi business with a new appraiser regulation so I'm very slow too. They will run pretty much every business out of the country that can go, the rest they will just slowly strangle.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

I actually went that web site - good lord have mercy on our souls - there are just thousands of agency's and people decending upon the populous.

Sure you guys have enough tree's for the paper - uh tree's I would guess but maybe no business'es to process them, maybe Utah or Wyoming has some tree's they can make it out of LOL

[Dixon Cruickshank]

Here is a good read on CA from the Washington Examiner - its not just George and Russ, other people see the idiocy also
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/columns/Failed-states-California-is-overregulated-overtaxed-and-just-plain-over-69984102.html

[George Rebane]

Dixon, welccome back and it's always a pleasure and useful to get perspective from across the land on our foibles. Our Left here is convinced beyond argument that their policies are taking us to the promised land. And indeed they are, only they don't understand what it promises.

[Martin Light]

George, I attended Friday's hearing at The Rood as well as a similar one held in Chico on October 9th. At both public meetings CARB and "junk science" were used in the same sentences by many who gave testimony. A point made by Assemblyman Logan and possibly missed by many in the audience is that scientists initially appointed as advisors to CARB when it was established were to be for 3 year terms however, several "scientists" have somehow evaded that requirement and have been with CARB for decades. Also, a controversy may be brewing as the credentials of some of the so-called "scientists" who may have purchased their degrees from paper mills.

As for those complaining not to have known about these public meetings I'd suggest that they broaden their sources for news and comment. The media box in the Board of Supervisors Chamber was full as was the room itself.

[Martin Light]

Anyone wishing to read about the October 9th hearing in Chico can find it here: http://cabproreport.typepad.com/weblog/2009/11/cost-of-state-regulations-on-california-small-businesses-study.html

[Dixon Cruickshank]

George I'm usually popping in, its just sometimes I'm just speechless..... for me that is something

The comment in that article that more would be leaving if they could sell their house is probably more true than they think.
11/10 can't come quick enough and I just can't fathom what is going to happen out there and the rest of the country - kinda like the short stack at the World Series of Poker - scary indeed, the scariest fact is they think everything is fine

The Cliche - "Handwriting on the wall" comes to mind.

[Dixon Cruickshank]

George, how did you find out about this meeting? Was it a public meeting, and if so, where was the public invitation?

Anna this was secret meeting of the Right Wing Capilalist Pigs trying to save the world - very secret kinda like those Templar Knight guys