Sacramento is doing it again. This afternoon the state senate approved the extension of cap-and-trade, shuttling the bill along to the assembly.
All of the Democrats voted yes, including yours truly Senator Josh Newman (D-Fullerton) and Republican sell-out Senator Tom Berryhill (Modesto).
This bill is not about the environment. This bill is another gas tax, because Jerry Brown and all of the California Democrats want to force their philosophies onto you. They don't want you driving a car for having a nice home with a backyard. They want everyone riding bikes in their cramped, dense, urban, unicorn utopia.
California has no effect on the climate, and acting like we're the champions of progress and justice is just silly.
Sen. Andy Vidak (R-Hanford), who opposed the bill, said:
"We could shut down the entire state of California, and it would have absolutely no effect on the global climate."
There were nutty environmental groups who, believe it or not, didn't think this bill went far enough. Senate leader Kevin de León (D-Los Angeles) said:
“No plan is perfect when you’re required by design to have a compromise. We can’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.”
"Instead of sitting on the sideline and watching everything go off a cliff, I was able to ensure farmers, small-business owners and rural Californians were well-represented and protected in the negotiation."
How nice is that? Another Republican votes to raise your taxes. And he's termed out, so it makes no difference to him.
Our state leaders robbed us yet again. How many more times does this have to happen before people wake up?! When they finally see the outrageous costs at the pump?
This is why Josh Newman needs to be recalled! End the Democratic supermajority, and make it harder for these bozos to cram more taxes down our throats.
We'll keep watching this as it advances to the Assembly.