Assemblyman Dan Logue, California 3th District, is drafting the California Jobs Initiative to suspend AB-32 until California's unemployment rate drops below 5.5%. This action is taken in light of the recent revelation from the leaked, or hacked, emails from the Climate Research Unit at East Anglia University. Global warming science is in question and this suspension will give legislators time to sort out the issues and give California's economy time to recover.
From the Draft Initiative:
SECTION 1. STATEMENT OF FINDINGSA. In 2006, the Legislature and Governor enacted a sweeping law designed to combat Global Warming, also known as “AB 32.” At the time the bill was signed, the unemployment rate in California was 4.8%.
B. Since its adoption, California has been hit be a global recession and California’s unemployment rate has now surpassed 12%.
C. Several studies predict that AB 32 will cost small businesses billions of dollars thereby slowing economic recovery and job creation.
D. AB 32 contains a provision that would allow the Governor to delay implementation in the event of “extraordinary circumstances, including “significant economic harm.” Unfortunately, the Governor has not agreed that a global recession and massive unemployment should give way to an untested environmental law.
SECTION 2. STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
A. The people desire to suspend the operation and implementation of AB 32 until the state’s unemployment rate returns to the levels at the time of its adoption.
SECTION 3. SUSPENSION OF AB 32
Division 25.6 (commencing with section 38600) of the Health and Safety Code is hereby added to read:
§38600(a) From and after the effective date of this measure, Division 25.5(commencing with section 38500) of the Health and Safety Code is suspended until such time as the unemployment rate in California is 5.5% or less for four consecutive calendar quarters.
(b) While suspended, no state agency shall propose, promulgate, or adopt any regulation implementing Division 25.5(commencing with section 38500) and any regulation adopted prior to the effective date of this measure shall be void and unenforceable until such time as the suspension is lifted.
SECTION 4. GENERAL PROVISIONSA. If any provision of this measure, or part thereof, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining provisions shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect, and to this end the provisions of this measure are severable.
Your thoughts are encouraged in the comments sections. Is this initiative strong enough, or is there more to consider?
