News Archive

by Kathy McKinney

It’s a miserably hot Saturday; too hot to work in the garden, so I turned on the sprinkler and finished up some appraisals I had holding and decided to do a little laundry and entertain myself by watching the Democrats fight on CSPAN over our Florida votes. (Well, not my vote, but the vote of anybody who voted for a democrat.) Yes, I actually watch CSPAN. I’m geeky enough not to be ashamed to admit that I watch it all the time. Don’t get that look; it’s not as boring as you’d think. Today it’s as funny as anything else on the idiot box.

They’re all horribly busy and serious explaining to each other that although they said that Florida and Michigan votes wouldn’t count; they really, really want to win in November and they’ve changed their minds. In short, they’re making the old standard politician’s argument that the ends justify the means; that my word is my bond…until it benefits me to change my mind. You’d think that someone would stand up and say, hey! Let’s just do what we said we were going to do for a change. Instead, they’re bickering over how to split up the booty. Ugh. That’s enough of that. If I hear the words “reconciliation” or “unity” one more time I’m going to become ill on my Mac keyboard. These people can’t even come back from LUNCH when they say they promise to…they were supposed to be back an hour and a half ago. On national television. That’s just embarrassing.

Politicians of all sorts worry me, not just democrats. Gov. Crist is scaring me this week. It hasn’t really made the news, but he’s about to place all Floridians under the permanent boot of the environmental nut-jobs who run California. Coming up on June 19, they’re having a meeting to adopt California’s emissions standards for the State of Florida. (They’re also passing rules that you can’t idle your diesel engine for more than five minutes on that date…see the story, front page.) If you just sort of scan the surface and read the press releases, it sounds like a good thing. It forces automakers to build special cars that meet tough emission standards; it forces power plants to limit the amount of emissions they can produce; it sounds environmental and green and good. It’s not; it’s a bureaucratic nightmare that we won’t be able to escape. They’re legislating by executive fiat; there’s been no vote, and the people running this auto show will not be elected or subject to the voters. (Can you say taxation without representation, boys and girls?)

Arthur Bellot brought it to my attention and tried to explain to me why it concerned him. (In small words, because I’m not that bright, sometimes.) He said that it would increase the cost of our electricity. Remember the rolling blackouts in California a few summers back? Nobody wanted to spend the money and wade through the paperwork required in California to build power plants. That could be us in a few years under this plan. It would also discourage new business. We’ve lost Georgia Pacific already; can we afford to lose other industries who may have some sort of regulated emissions when they move two hours north to Georgia who doesn’t have strict regulations? Can we afford to lose one more job? Can we afford to pay California prices? Can we afford to pay “emissions” police to sit on the state border and turn back any vehicle that doesn’t pass inspection? Do we want to?

Arthur mentioned that it would not only increase the price we’re paying at the pump (oh, sure, stick it to us some more, we’re made out of money), due to the re-formulated gas and ethanol standards in the rules; it will make it almost impossible for us to buy heavy trucks. A quick internet search showed that somebody has calculated that complying with California’s rules will add around $2,000 to the price of a new truck. It will probably be more. Arthur also mentioned that it would hurt local auto dealers, too…anybody who wants a big truck will just drive over to Valdosta and buy one there. I googled that, too…but no, they won’t be able to do that either. California rules don’t allow you to register any vehicle in the state unless it meets the current environmental guidelines. There will be no getting around the expensive red tape. Not even FARM TRACTORS will be exempt. Floridians can’t afford this kind of “green.” Especially in this economy.

If it worries you, too, contact Greg DeAngelo (Gregory.DeAngelo@dep.state.fl.us)

If using e-mail, please copy Lynn Scearce (lynn.scearce@dep.state.fl.us )