| on Jul 8, 2008, 01:48 PM E.S.T.
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A proposal in California to require emissions-rating stickers on new
cars is another example of "government overreach," according to
Business & Media Institute Vice President Dan Gainor.
Gainor
told "America's Election HQ" host E.D. Hill on Fox News Channel July 7
that California's decision could affect other parts of the country
because of its influence on environmental policies.
"California
already affects the nation," he said. "At least 12 states copy their
environmental regulations. California has the highest [gas] taxes at 75
cents a gallon and the second-highest overall cost of gas," Gainor
noted.
The point of the stickers would be to inform new car
buyers of a car's emissions impact in the name of making consumers more
educated, according to Tom Cackette of the California Air Resources
Board, also a guest on "America's Election HQ."
But Gainor contended that the free market, not government intervention, is creating educated consumers.
"[I]f
California really wants people to make changes they should assume
people are already doing it," Gainor said. "In fact they are doing it.
The free market works. People can find this information [in] Consumer
Reports; they can find it on the Web. The government doesn't need to
get involved."
"If the media would put two-and-two together and
connect $4 a gallon gas prices with something like massive government
overreach and huge regulation, maybe people would begin to learn,"
Gainor said. Source
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