The California State Assembly is expected to vote this week on a plan to give rebates to people who buy little, awesome, eco-happy cars and tax the folks with Napoleon complexes.
The California Clean Car Discount Act would hit the gas drunks with a $2,500 fee at time of purchase, while smaller, more fuel-efficient car buyers would get a rebate for their smart shopping.
Last year a similar bill was stopped due to intense lobbying by auto dealers of a septet of wimpy LA Democrats who ultimately abstained from voting. The LA Times ran a good piece on the bill today, with some hilariously stupid quotes from folks opposing it. For example: “What if some poor guy in Watts retires and says, ‘I want an SUV,’ ” Dymally said. “Do you punish him for that?”
Um, yeah. Precisely.
If passed, the new law could put a big dent in our greenhouse gas emissions, 40 percent of which come from vehicles. Now all we need is massive tax write-offs for people who don’t own cars at all.