A few Democrats in California’s State Assembly have expressed concern over the state’s cap-and-trade program impacting the poor. Due to existing low carbon fuel standards (LCFS), California’s gas prices already run 40-50 cents above the national average. A redesign of the state’s cap-and-trade mandate could raise the state’s gas prices by as much as 40 cents per gallon—all to “encourage people to drive less or buy electric cars.”
The Wall Street Journal reminds readers that the “Boston Consulting Group predicted in 2012 that cap and trade and the state’s carbon fuel standard would drive up gas prices between $0.49 and $1.83 per gallon by 2020.” Despite the Democrats’ claims of inaccuracy, Boston Consulting Group’s figures seem more and more probable.
It appears to have finally occurred to 16 of California’s Democrat Assembly Members that the extreme nature of their environmental agenda places a heavy, excessive burden on low income earners—a burden intensified by double digit unemployment in the state’s low-income regions.
The Wall Street Journal,
“Last week 16 Democratic Assembly Members—about 30% of their caucus—signed a letter urging California Air Resources Board chairwoman Mary Nichols to delay or redesign the state’s cap-and-trade program. “We are concerned about the impact of the AB 32 cap-and-trade program on our constituents,” they write, adding that “many of the areas we represent are still struggling with double digit unemployment…
“But as the Assembly Democrats point out, cap and trade is “hurting the most vulnerable members of our communities.”
If only Washington State Democrats—particularly our green, green governor—would figure that one out.
