Long Beach Sac'to Legislators Sen. Lara And Assemblyman O'Donnell Vote "Yes" On SB 1 Gas Tax Increase Despite Its "Assault Our Lungs" Language (Opposed By Clean Air Groups) That Could Affect Efforts To Control Truck Pollution In LB and S.E. L.A. County "Diesel Death Zone"
Sen. Nguyen (R, SE LB-West OC) votes "no." So does only one state Senate Dem from No. Cal...who cites trucking industry verbiage among his reasons for voting "no"
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(April 7, 2017, 7:30 a.m.) -- As seen LIVE on LBREPORT.com last night (April 6), Sacramento Democrats (wielding 2/3 majorities in the Assembly and state Senate since Nov. 2016 elections) approved SB 1, which as of July 1 will impose a gasoline tax increase of 6 cents/gallon (rises to 9 cents/gallon a year later and 12 cents/gallon two years later) and car registration fee increases for state and local road repairs. Republicans in both houses argued against the measure and voted "no."
Among LB area representatives, State Senator Ricardo Lara (D, Long Beach-Huntington Park) and Assemblyman Patrick O'Donnell (D, Long Beach-San Pedro) both voted "yes" despite SB 1's addition on March 29 of an "Assault our Lungs" provision (details at this link) opposed by the Coalition for Clean Air and Sierra Club, who warned it could let trucking industry dilute/delay/possibly avoid some anti-pollution measures. Environmental groups said the text was added to SB 1 to gain support of trucking industry interests displeased with the bill's 20 cent/gallon increase in diesel fuel taxes. An association representing CA's 35 air pollution control districts told lawmakers in a letter that as written SB 1 could impede trucking-related regulations such as restrictions on emissions at ports, warehouses, railyards and airports.
State Sen. Janet Nguyen (R, SE LB-West OC) joined nearly all Repubs in voting against SB 1. (One Senate Repub, Anthony Cannella of Modesto, voted "yes.")
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Only one State Senate Dem voted against SB 1 -- Sen. Steve Glazer (D, Orinda). In a statement to the San Jose Mercury News, Sen. Glazer cited the trucking industry text as among the reasons he voted "no." "...I was also concerned about last-minute amendments to this bill that the environmental community and air quality regulators say will unwisely limit our ability to control diesel pollution from trucks. These changes have never been fully vetted and deserve more scrutiny," Sen. Glazer said.
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Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia co-signed a March 23 letter with four other CA Mayors endorsing SB 1 prior adding of the trucking verbiage; Garcia didn't publicly call for the text's removal, didn't withdraw his support for the measure or withhold his support until the language was removed.
Long Beach Councilmembers Al Austin (chair), Lena Gonzalez Vice Chair) and Stacy Mungo (member) (who comprise the Mayor-chosen "State Legislation Committee") didn't make a voted recommendation on SB 1 in January 2017. On April 4, Committee chair Austin (whose Council district parallels the 710 freeway) told a City Council meeting that City Hall's Committee/Council-approved "state legislative agenda" had helped advance SB 1...despite the fact that the City's "state legislative agenda" doesn't mention gasoline tax increases. It states that Long Beach will support policies and legislation "to secure the maximum amount of State funding for the construction and maintenance of local roads, infrastructure, transportation projects and major corridors" but also states that the City will "Support efforts to improve air quality" through the actions that include supporting policies and legislation that would enable the adoption of comprehensive and aggressive State air quality standards for mobile sources, including passenger vehicles [and] heavy-duty trucks, locomotives, and ships..."
SB 1 was endorsed by the leadership of CA and L.A. Area Chambers of Commerce. The measure was opposed by the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
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Below is the trucking industry verbiage included in SB 1 as passed by Dem majorities in the state Senate and Assembly.
...(d) It is the intent of the Legislature for this section to provide owners of self-propelled commercial motor vehicles, as defined in subdivision (a), certainty about the useful life of engines certified by the state board and other applicable agencies to meet required environmental standards for sale in the state. This section is not meant to otherwise restrict the authority of the state board or districts.
(e) (1) The state board shall, by January 1, 2025, evaluate the impact of the provisions of this section on state and local clean air efforts to meet state and local clean air goals. The evaluation shall include a review of the following:
(A) Compliance with the truck and bus rule (Section 2025 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations).
(B) The benefits and impacts of measures enacted to improve local air quality impacts from stationary sources.
(C) State implementation plan compliance.
(2) As part of the study, the state board shall make recommendations to the Legislature on additional or different mechanisms for achieving those goals while recognizing the financial investments made by the effected entities. In developing the study, the state board shall take into account the report required in Section 38531 of the Health and Safety Code.
3) The state board shall hold at least one public workshop prior to the completion of the study.
Following action on SB 1, state lawmakers adjourned for a spring vacation until April 17.
