To fight global warming, a bill
in Sacramento would enable Los Angeles County transit officials to
increase taxes on motorists. It's a bad idea that may foreshadow even
worse to come.
Billed as a "climate change mitigation and adaptation fee," the
measure would cost motorists either an additional 3 percent motor fuel
tax, or up to a $90 annual flat fee, based on vehicle emissions. The
new charges would be on top of taxes already paid at the pump. Either
option requires a majority approval by a vote of the people.
"At this point the people of the Los Angeles region have just had it
when it comes to traffic and air quality," claimed Assemblyman Mike
Feuer, a Los Angeles Democrat and author of Assembly Bill 2558.
We concur about the traffic mess, but with little else Mr. Feuer
claims in seeking to overtax motorists. The assemblyman's sleight of
hand conflates two issues, the real problem of congested traffic and
the contrived emergency of so-called global warming.
Congested traffic is easily verifiable. If it went away tomorrow,
politicians would be unable to persuade voters to tax themselves to fix
it.
Global warming at best amounts to less than a degree of temperature
increase during the past century. If the recent several-year cooling
trend is an indication, global warming may be going away. But because
the only "proof" of long-term catastrophic consequences lies in
contrived computer models, politicians like Mr. Feuer can insist even
as temperatures decline that doomsday still lies ahead unless people
tax themselves to fix the problem.
Los Angeles County motorists should ask Mr. Feuer what global
temperature would persuade him that a new tax is unneeded. Global
warming, now conveniently rechristened "climate change," is perfect for
demagoguery. Those advancing the cause won't explain how they will know
we have won the global warming fight, let alone what the ideal
temperature is supposed to be.
Climate has changed as long as the Earth has spun on its axis. It's
been considerably warmer in recent centuries than today, and during
those periods humanity simply adapted, indeed, flourished with fewer
cold-weather deaths and more abundant crops.
But facts don't deter schemes like Mr. Feuer's to raise $400 million
in additional taxes to pay for already funded transit projects. The Los
Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority would have to
place the issue on the ballot if AB2558 becomes law, and probably would
do so because the agency would reap the bounty.
We hope, however, that motorists see the ploy for what it is and
reject the additional tax. If not, it's a good bet this scare tactic
will be repeated throughout the state. Source
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