CABPRO Report

CABPRO's Position on AB 32

In its present state, California is not well.  Not long ago it was the envy of the nation and the world. Often referred to as the “Golden State”, California was the land of opportunity for business’ as well as the people who live here. But today that optimism and forward thinking is sinking it into a failed state.

Although Arnold Schwarzenegger was elected Governor by professing to know how to bail California out of its debt, he will most likely be remembered as the governor who built the state’s green economy.  Assembly Bill 32, the bill signed into law by Schwarzenegger four years ago, will dramatically change the way business is done in California.

Major elements of this law, AB 32, go into effect in 2010 and numerous others are coming up for approval, including a very controversial “cap-and-trade” system of buying and selling pollution credits that will reach far beyond just the state of California.

California’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman has stated that if elected, she would suspend AB 32 by executive order for a year. Her rival GOP opponent Steve Poizner is even more adamantly against it.  He has gone so far as to actively support a proposed ballot measure lead by Assemblyman Dan Logue designed to suspend the law until the state reaches unemployment levels that are below 5.5 percent. The ballot measure is titled “California Jobs Initiative.”  One study released last year from Sacramento State, determined that AB 32 would cost the average household almost $3,000 a year, and the average small business over $40,000 a year.

The proponents of AB 32 believe that abandoning it would be devastating to California. They argue that the state is already seeing economic gain from the far-reaching law. CARB spokesman Stanley Young claims that “$3 out of every $5 invested in clean tech is coming to California.”  These proponents further believe that if California abandons AB 32 it would just leave the door open to other states to move forward and leave California with missed opportunity.

Perhaps the question that should be asked is what is the price of “missed opportunity” when compared to the loss of even more already existing California jobs and businesses?


The California Association of Business, Property and Resource Owners (CABPRO) is against AB 32 and calls for an immediate stop to its implementation.  Furthermore, CABPRO supports any investigation into CARB regarding recent disclosures about key scientists having phony credentials and academic degrees as well as reports from the news media regarding "Climategate" and that Global Warming is based on "junk science."

CABPRO DINNER SERIES - April 14, 2010

Assemblyman Dan Logue, 3rd District, speaking on California Jobs Initiative, AB32 and taking California back

Enjoy Homemade 1930’s Depression Era ~ “Hobo Dinner”

of

Chili, Cornbread & Dessert

At 6:00 PM at
Penny’s Diner
2072 Nevada City Hwy (Fowler Center)
Grass Valley, CA  95945


RSVP by April 12th
via email to [email protected]
or calling (530) 478-1331

Donation of $15.00

Come and cry with the rest of us before
we finish paying our taxes!

Local Agriculture: Three Current Challenges

Reported by Lauren Mary Lund, CABPRO Staff

CABPRO’s May Open House gathering yesterday, Friday, featured Nevada County Farm Bureau Board Member and local hay farmer, John Powers, presenting the state of local agriculture.  The good news is that we now have approximately 600 farms in Nevada County, and  support for local agriculture is positive and on the rise.  Powers informed us that most local farms are owned by individuals or families, with the median age of local farmers at 55 years old.  Which introduces one of the three current challenges.

Agriculture in general, and particularly in Nevada County, suffers from an insufficient  number of young people interested in farming, and willing to return home from college  to settle down in Nevada County and be farmers here.  Numbers from the 2002 Agriculture Census indicate there are less than half as many young farmers as the 54 and older group.  The Agriculture Census is conducted every five years.  The last Census was just taken in 2007, and those numbers are not available yet, but there has been no indication of an increase in local young people pursuing agricultural careers.

Smear Campaigns

The following is from several encyclopedic sources:

A smear campaign is an intentional, premeditated effort to undermine an individual's or group's reputation, credibility, and character. "Mud slinging", like negative campaigning, most often targets government officials, politicians, political candidates, and other public figures.

Smear tactics differ from normal discourse or debate in that they do not bear upon the issues or arguments in question. A smear is a simple attempt to malign a group or an individual and to attempt to undermine their credibility.

Smears often consist of personal attacks in the form of unverifiable rumors and are often distortions, half-truths, or even outright lies; smear campaigns are often propagated by gossip spreading. Even when the facts behind a smear are shown to lack proper foundation, the tactic is often effective because the target's reputation is tarnished before the truth is known.

Smears are also effective in diverting attention away from the matter in question and onto the individual or group. The target of the smear is typically forced to defend his reputation rather than focus on the previous issue.

CABPRO considers smear tactics to be a low, disingenuous form of communication and does not support, tolerate or condone such behavior. We ask ALL who are seeking our votes in future elections to stay focused on important issues and on why we should vote for them.

Ted Terbolizard: U. S. Congressional Candidate Responds to CABPRO

1. What are one or two specific critical issues in our community and how do you plan to address them?
Property Rights are the main issue I hear about from constituents, and the theme always revolves around the threat or actual practice of government stealing from the people, whether it's through taxes, eminent domain, gun restrictions, prohibition of marijuana, etc.  I stand by the people's rights and not the government's.

2. What steps will you take to decrease the size of government?
I plan to vote “NO” on nearly all legislation passing through the House of Representatives, and I plan on introducing one page pieces of legislation designed to repeal existing legislation the size of phone books or encyclopedia sets.

3.  Do you think human-caused global warming is a true and/or significant problem?
Lighting a match warms the planet, sure.  I have a tremendous interest in science and technology, and hope to serve on the House Science and Technology Committee; article 1.8.8 of our Constitution is my favorite part:

"Congress shall have the power to promote the progress of science and useful arts..."  However, as soon as the global warming discussion turns to increased government laws, taxes and agencies, the discussion has shifted away from empowering scientific dialog to escalating government control and oppression, which I oppose.

4.  Do you endorse or oppose Proposition 98, the California Property Owners and Farmland  Protection Act?
I have not studied Proposition 98 yet, as I am focused on the federal and not the state government; this will not be in my jurisdiction as a member of the House of Representatives.  If you'd like to guess my position, I almost always vote “NO,” always stand by personal property rights, and oppose increasing the size of government or taxes.

I address some of these issues specifically in my printed newspaper inserts; especially questions one and two.  Stop by my new office in Grass Valley, at the corner of E. Main and Idaho Maryland, right near the 49 onramp, 417 E. Main, for those articles and for more information.
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An Educational Experience ~ June 3rd Primary Countdown

Last night at the Nevada County Republicans’ Spring Dinner many of the candidates vying for your vote on June 3rd mingled, introduced themselves and some presented their opinions on immigration, role and size of government, taxes, border security, property rights and other important issues.  From all indications it was the most interesting and thought provoking local political event most had been to in years. California 2nd 3rd Assembly candidates were given the opportunity to state their abilities. Those running for the 4th Congressional District seat ranged from the sincere inexperienced, to the stand-up comic, to two experienced candidates, one who was presenting well until he went on the attack and the other who stayed on the high road while taking below the belt hits.  Candidates competing for the Nevada County District 2 Supervisor’s seat were also in attendance but did not step up to the microphone.  Seeing the candidates for various offices present their best and worst was a great educational experience of our Democratic process.

Two weeks ago the above conservative candidates were asked four questions  their answers to which would be published in the May issue of CABPRO News.  We look forward to receiving their responses by the due date noted in our invitation.

Become a member of CABPRO to stay informed and educated about your rights as business, property and resource owners.  For information about becoming a member of CABPRO or to subscribe to CABPRO News contact us here.

April 14 update:  A correction was made above ~ it is the 3rd Assembly District and not the 2nd. Thanks to an alert reader.

CABPRO thanks The Union

CABPRO wishes to thank The Union newspaper for acknowledging CABPRO as an organization of influence in Nevada County in the Saturday, March 15, OpEd piece “Can we grow beyond tunnel vision?” by Editor Jeff Pelline.  We strive to maintain a reputation for credible and thoughtful input on a variety of issues and we know our work is not done.