Another recipe for financial disaster

Watch out, America. What starts in California inevitably spreads and could wind up in your backyard.

If the latest plan to "clean the air" in the nine-county San Francisco Bay Area is implemented, the schemes will spread. In the long run, they would change life drastically and cost everyone more than a pretty penny.

The proposals cover everything from home fireplaces, cows and dairies, wineries, housing developments, energy and car usage, manufacturing emissions, new tolls to "control" congestion, restrictions on farming and construction.

To say the proposals are draconian puts it mildly.

If this plan moves ahead in California, it will put the state in a financial death spiral, as though it isn't there already.

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Consider: Statewide, tax revenues are dropping. Even though taxes are already high, politicians are considering every way possible to raise more money with new taxation schemes. The state budget is unbalanced, and California is into the third month without a budget. The legislature and the governor are at loggerheads.

Residents of the Golden State are stuck in the middle and then, last week, the nine-county, unelected Bay Area Air Quality Management District dropped the bomb: It made public the clean air plan it adopted by a 19-0 vote.

The plan includes 55 measures to consider and 18 others to study. The goal is to cut fine particles including smog and soot, greenhouse gases and toxic air contaminants.

The plan covers just about everything.

There would be fees on any kind of development that result in heavy energy and vehicle use.

Existing homes with open fireplaces could not be sold unless low-emission inserts or stoves replace those fireplaces.

There are nearly 40 measures in the plan to cut emissions through changes in automobile use, travel and land use development.

In other words, if people have to drive too far to get to work, the development won't be approved or the builder would be charged a "fee."

There would be more "incentives" to get older cars and trucks off the road.

They already try. Every year I get a letter from the state offering to take my "old" vehicle off my hands for $1,000 cash. I'd rather they give me a new car, but no dice.

Fixed "pollution sources" are targeted by 18 proposals which would limit emissions by putting expensive filtering and other requirements on manufacturers, refineries, construction and varied industries. It would also consider a fee – uh, tax – on greenhouse gas producing industries.

If you enjoy the fragrance of fermentation as you drive through California's wine country – the board wants to end that. Wineries would be required to cut those emissions.

And, now, for the first time the board targets livestock. That's right. According to these geniuses, cows expel too much methane gas so the dairies would be required to change the animal feed to cut the gas.

Who knew, the climate is changing and the earth warming because of cow farts!

This plan simply reinforces the old line that "California is the home of fruits and nuts."

Not for the first time, the "nuts" are the environmentalists who aim to change things to suit their goal of returning the state to its original pristine beauty – to make everyone healthy and of course – to get rid of nasty oil and internal combustion engines.

Of course, that they have no idea that what they're talking about means nothing. They have the power, and enough people buy into the idea that the government can regulate us into living they way they want us to, that these ideas gain strength.

Remember, they're the same kind of people who regulate toilets, water faucets, light bulbs, grocery bags, cigarettes, paint, fertilizers, weed and pest killers, refrigerants, fuels and vehicles. The list goes on and on.

But when it comes to air pollution, Californians are sitting ducks.

With cars and trucks, smog was a problem but was solved. Old cars have catalytic converters, and new cars are clean.

In fact, air across the state is cleaner than ever, so what does the pollution board regulate?

According to the board, it needs to protect public health because the area doesn't meet pollutant and fine-particle standards, which can shorten life.

The report says carrying out all 55 measures would result in 85 fewer premature deaths a year, fewer school and work absences and $770 million in reduced medical costs.

Believe that, and I've got a bridge to sell you – but those people do believe it and have the power to mandate the new rules and regulations.

Ultimately, these regulations will result in a cascade of new government regulations and requirements, higher business costs, increased taxes, higher consumer prices, higher housing prices and more restrictions on where and how residents live, work and drive.

California already has the Global Warming Solutions Act, A.B.32, signed into law in 2006, which aims to bring emissions down to 1990 levels by 2020. Because of the exorbitant costs to business and taxpayers, an initiative is on the November ballot to stop implementation until unemployment rates drop.

California has enough to worry about with rising unemployment, burdensome and destructive business regulations, high taxes, reduced tax revenues, growing foreclosures and businesses and residents moving out.

Now, an out-of-control environmental cabal is about to foist on California new regulations that will push the state over the cliff of financial disaster.

And, it's coming your way.