(Editor’s Note: Senate Republican Leader Jean Fuller issued the following press release on SB 32.)
Senate Republican Leader Jean Fuller (R-Bakersfield) opposed Senate Bill 32 (Pavley, D-Agoura Hills) and made the case to protect jobs in California. SB 32 would require the California Air Resources Board to ensure that statewide greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. The California Chamber of Commerce labeled SB 32 as a ‘job killer’ bill.
Here are excerpts of Senator Fuller’s remarks:
“The impacts in my county are immense. It has driven hundreds of energy jobs out of my county while creating very few jobs even though we have been very successful in competing for those new jobs.
“It has decreased energy security for our country by dismantling the energy infrastructure in our country and by eliminating jobs that are highly-skilled, well-paid that are very important to my county.
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“The changes it has brought to our economy are unforgivable.
“It has also increased our energy rates in an area where the heat is so intense that we cannot rollback our cooling devices as many areas can.
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“To my colleagues who say ‘oh, the sky is falling, but it’s not’. Come visit me in my county. My sky is falling.”