The Los Angeles Times reported today that Alaska governor Sarah Palin sent California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger a letter late last month asking him to veto legislation imposing a fee on cargo containers moving through California ports. The fees raised through Senate Bill 974 would raise $400 million annually and fund pollution reduction measures such as installing cleaner burning truck and train engines, and building roadways over or under train tracks to alleviate long lines of waiting vehicles.
The bills author, California state Senator Alan Lowenthal, a Democrat from the port town of Long Beach, said Palin appears to have little understanding of the importance of the measure for the health of Californians.
She certainly displays a lack of understanding,” Lowenthal said, “We are losing about 3,400 Californians each year because of pollution. No matter what Governor Palin would like to see happen, the impact is killing Californians. I don’t think Governor Palin truly understands the impacts going on here.”
Lowenthal has invited Palin to visit Southern California ports to see first-hand why the legislation is needed.
Governor Schwarzenegger has not responded to Palin’s letter, but has said he will consider it.
Right now the governor’s top priority is getting a responsible budget approved.”, said a Rachel Cameron, a spokeswoman for Schwarzenegger.
Good point.
This is one Californian suggesting that, when it comes to our legislative process and how we choose to deal with our own environmental issues, Sarah Palin mind her own damn business.
