PROP 23 - SUSPENDS IMPLEMENTATION OF AIR POLLUTION CONTROL LAW

PROP 23 IN BASIC TERMS:

Prop 23 would suspend current pollution control laws and AB 32 (the Global Warming Act of 2006), which requires greenhouse gas emissions be reduced to 1990 levels by 2020 - until unemployment drops to 5.5% or below for four consecutive quarters.

PROP 23 A LITTLE BACKGROUND:

If passed, Prop 23 would suspend AB 32, the Global Warming Act of 2006 (also know as the "Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006.") This is considered California’s landmark clean air legislation when it was signed by Gov. Schwarzenegger.

ARGUMENTS FOR A YES ON PROP 23:

- "Energy costs in California will go up with AB32." This will affect electricity, natural gas, and gasoline.

- As energy costs go up, businesses will pass these costs along to consumers.

- It will save jobs, claima are " 2 blue collar jobs" are lost " for every one green job created."

- "Proposition 23 doesn’t weaken or repeal the hundreds of laws that protect the environment, reduce air pollution, keep our water clean and protect public health."

ARGUMENTS FOR A NO ON PROP 23:

- "This measure is a polluter’s dream and will kill a clean energy economy for California." Steve Maviglio, Californians for Clean Energy and Jobs.

- Will lead to more air pollution and increased health risks.

- State would abandon mandatory emission reporting and fee requirements for major polluters such as power plants and oil refineries, until suspension ends.

- "The majority of funding for the Yes on Prop 23 campaign has come from oil companies outside of California."

- It is heavily supported by big Texas oil companies Valero Energy Corporation and Tesoro Corporation.

- Additionally, has a large support from Flint Hills Resources a division of Koch Industries.

- Valero and Tesoro oil companies, are alleged to be "among the worst polluters in California. They’re using 23 to repeal portions of the health and safety codes requiring them to reduce air pollution at their California refineries."

- Reduces incentives to find alternatives to costly oil. Threatens national security by making us dependent on foreign oil.

- Will kill the single largest source of job growth, by threatening clean energy jobs in California.

"By repealing clean energy laws, Prop. 23 would put many of these California companies out of business, kill a homegrown industry that is creating hundreds of thousands of California jobs, and damage our overall economy." This could jeopardize as many as 500,000 jobs.

- California's unemployment rate hovers around 12%. It's been at 5.5% or below for four consecutive quarters just three times since 1980. It has not been below 5.5% since 2007.

- According to the California Employment Development Department (EDD), there have only been 3 times since 1976 when unemployment remained below 5.5 for 4 or more quarters.

1/ January 1988 through December 1989

2/ October 1999 through June 2001

3/ October 2005 through June 2007

WEIRDO FACTOID:

Supporters call Proposition 23 the California Jobs Initiative and opponents call it the Dirty Energy Proposition.

PROP 23 SUMMARY:

Y - On Prop 23 means suspending current pollution control laws until unemployment drops to 5.5% or below for four consecutive quarters.

N - On Prop 23 means moving ahead with the environmental goals set by the Global Warming Act of 2006 and other pollution control laws.

For more information on Prop 23 go to http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/California_Proposition_23,_the_Suspension_of_AB_32_%282010%29

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