March 29, 2024
Cap and Trade extension: More power to the Air Resources Board
SACRAMENTO - (INT) - The California State Senate Monday passed an extension of the controversial Cap and Trade program that will result in higher taxes and higher gasoline and energy prices for California consumers.

Senator Connie Leyva (D-Chino) voted with the majority. “AB 398 and AB 617 are together a good compromise package that will fight climate change while also protecting communities highly impacted by poor air quality. Today’s vote is a step in the right direction”, she said.

Senate Republican Leader Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) said "The real threat of climate change should not be used as an excuse to increase the cost of gas, food and electricity on those who can least afford it. Cap-and-trade essentially takes money from the wallets of Californians and deposits it into a Sacramento slush fund to pay for questionable priorities,” she said in a statement.

Riverside County Republican Jeff Stone declared that taxpayers, environmentalists, and consumers all lost. "This package of bills is nothing more than a huge tax increase on California's working families who will now have to choose between gasoline and food while making the Coastal elites who fly around the world in their private jets talking about global warming feel good about themselves,” Stone said.

Senator Richard D. Roth (D-Riverside)declared that "AB 398 and AB 617 are bipartisan measures which will help us continue to improve our region and state’s air quality while providing key stakeholders and industries with the flexibility they need to meet our shared clean air goals."
Story Date: July 21, 2017
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