Bob Harris: California Jobs Initiative Is Bad Policy

The ballot proposal is nothing more than an attempt to sabotage AB 32, the state’s landmark global warming bill

By Bob Harris | Published on 02.11.2010

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Assembly Bill 32, California’s landmark global warming bill, has been getting a lot of attention lately — and not much of it is positive. Much of the coverage seems to have been spurred by a proposed ballot initiative that would suspend AB 32 until California’s unemployment rate falls below 5.5 percent for four consecutive quarters. This ballot proposal is known to its supporters as the California Jobs Initiative.

Proponents tout the initiative as reasonable given the condition of California’s economy. Despite what they might imply by proposing an unemployment threshold, supporters of the initiative are not AB 32 enthusiasts who think it’s prudent to wait for better economic conditions. They are opportunistic opponents of AB 32 who see a chance to go for the kill. Instead of reasonable policy, the initiative is a poorly disguised attempt to sabotage AB 32.

To see how the California Jobs Initiative would endlessly delay AB 32, one only needs to look at the history of California’s quarterly unemployment rate. In the past 20 years, only twice has California enjoyed at least four consecutive quarters of less than 5.5 percent unemployment.

The state’s average quarterly unemployment rate from 1990 through 2009 was 6.9 percent. Even when recession-laden 2009 is tossed out the window, the average is still 6.7 percent. The proposed ballot initiative would require four consecutive quarters of unusually low unemployment before proceeding with AB 32.

Supporters of the jobs initiative know that the unemployment threshold set by the initiative would be almost impossible to achieve in any near future, virtually guaranteeing that AB 32 would be taken off the table for years to come. Furthermore, it’s likely that the initiative would be detrimental — not beneficial as claimed. If forced to wait for the prescribed employment conditions, California may be waiting an impossibly long time and at sizable cost.

So said a report by the Legislative Analyst’s Office. The nonpartisan office found that delaying the implementation of AB 32 would feel good now, but it could have consequences down the road. Californians would be trading lower energy bills now for lost ground on clean energy and the loss of a multitude of green jobs that would no longer be created. Not to mention the loss of potential revenue because the state would no longer regulate carbon credits.

Does AB 32 cost money? Of course. But it also transforms an economy and makes California one of the leading subnational governments in the world on greenhouse gas reductions.

The California Jobs Initiative has an important question at its core: Are there economic conditions that would justify modifying AB 32’s implementation? Unfortunately, the nobility of the question is completely sidetracked by the disingenuous nature of the initiative. It presents the illusion that its supporters think AB 32 is a wonderful idea under the right circumstances. A much more genuine approach would be to simply tell California voters of the intention to bury AB 32 under an insurmountable burden.

There are legitimate differences between conservatives and liberals on the proper role of government in combating environmental problems. There could even be very productive discussions about altering the implementation of AB 32 given the current economic climate.

The California Jobs Initiative is neither a solution nor a significant contribution to such debates. Instead, it is bad policy that would take the state backward instead of forward. Supports of the initiative are not interested in correction or improvement. They are simply focused on endless delay and postponement.

To say it in a way both sides can agree on: The California Jobs Initiative is focused on what the state can’t afford to do.

— Bob Harris is a graduate of the Pepperdine University School of Public Policy in Malibu.

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» Realist on 02.11.10 @ 07:37 PM

“The California Jobs Initiative is focused on what the state can’t afford to do.”

Then we can’t afford AB32 either, because as the author states:

“Does AB 32 cost money? Of course. But it also transforms an economy and makes California one of the leading subnational governments in the world on greenhouse gas reductions.”

To which I respond SO WHAT? Who are we trying to impress? We need to be a leading subnational government at our own sacrifice to please whom?

Whoever they are, they will be really really impressed at what fools we are for sinking our own economy because of yet another Chicken Little Doomsday scare that didn’t pan out (Y2K, Global Cooling, meteor hitting the earth, SARS, bird flu, swine flu, Africanized killer bees, killer toxic mold, etc etc…

If it is as serious as the Global Warming hoaxers (industry?) claim, California has little significance in saving the planet. We need to save ourselves first, economically. I think we can get through another record freezing winter before the planet warms out of control, and who knows? A little shift in the Sun’s distance from the Earth could work wonders to cool us back down real quick.

Ditch AB32.


» Ok Bob on 02.11.10 @ 07:41 PM

Who cares about people, it’s our IMAGE that matters.

How about if you be the first to give up your job so California can have high self esteem being the first on it’s block to have a “landmark global warming” bill. It won’t work, we are already the laughing stock of the country. This only helps perpetuate our suicide mission.


» Bob on 02.11.10 @ 08:31 PM

Man-made global warming is a hoax and therefore any policy created specifically to reduce it is also a hoax.  Take your silly little AB 32 and run along.  The adults are talking and we’d like to keep our money.  Maybe, just maybe, we’ll believe your next “save the world” hoax.  It doesn’t hurt to try again!


» What? on 02.11.10 @ 08:47 PM

There are still dinosaurs who believe in man caused Global Warming that haven’t been rendered extinct by the current ice age?

I think I would rather the unemployment rate was below 5.5% for four quarters than further damage the economy with AB32, only to find that increased or decreased solar activity (once again) reversed climate change.

BTW Arnold is a girly man for supporting this thing.


» AN50 on 02.11.10 @ 10:05 PM

What are you kidding me? Is this nut case serious? Of course they are trying to sabotage AB 32. Who in their right mind would not? When and if real environmentalists would throw the socialist scabs that have high jacked environmental concern to use as a Trojan horse for socialist policies, out of their movement then environmentalism might gain a shred of credibility. Right now all we see is 40 years of environmental socialism thrust on one of the most vibrant economies in the world choking the crap out of it until we have our current bankrupt nanny state. Get a freaking clue professor. Green jobs, right, what a laugh! AB 32 means no jobs and a continuation of our states decay. You lefty loonies want to save the environment? Think less people, starting with you.


» Cut taxes and Government on 02.11.10 @ 11:10 PM

Thats how you get small business going.


» Reality Check on 02.12.10 @ 09:15 AM

Bob - at what point do you cry uncle and give CA some chance of clawing it’s way back to a healthy economy?  AB32 pushes more jobs into the public sector where the wages are paid on borrowed money.  Your vision of this green future is looking aside the high unemployment, inflation, social unrest that social engineering has historically delivered.  Take a look at what is going on in Greece for a better preview of your vision.


» Agree! on 02.12.10 @ 09:25 AM

This guys is right. California’s proposed ballot initiative to suspend AB 32 until California’s unemployment rate falls below 5.5 percent for four consecutive quarters is like Pitt and Jolie refusing to get married unless “everyone” can get married. At this point in time, it’s not going to happen, and everyone knows it. It’s an excuse. California is the leader in the green movement, and they are creating a better economy by creating jobs tied to this movement. Killing AB 32 would be stripping California of a chance to improve and strengthen itself. AB 32 is proactive; the California Jobs Initiative is not.


» cblaster on 02.12.10 @ 11:39 AM

FLASH!!

This Brand New Video Blows a Huge Gaping Hole in Obama’s Cap and Tax Scheme and his Claims of Global Warming: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVm5-6H_sH4


» Realist on 02.12.10 @ 01:02 PM

“California is the leader in the green movement, and they are creating a better economy by creating jobs tied to this movement.”

This must be local/SezMe/Baghdad Bob.

Umm what jobs? What better economy? What infidels?

Please hurry and let me know what and where the green jobs are because I need one, quick, before the government money to artificially support them is gone, and we will have to start borrowing to pay the salaries.
What? That already happened?

Well tell me quick where the job openings are,  because as an unemployed rocket scientist, I will need to retrain and renew my gym membership so I can get a hard hat and start building all this green stuff.


» Thank you! on 02.12.10 @ 02:27 PM

For telling us about this Jobs Initiative. I want to sign on. We can’t afford to unilaterally save the planet right now. (as if…) Let China do it - they have all of our manufacturing now, as well as being the owners of our debt.


» Green is B.S on 02.12.10 @ 10:21 PM

These are one time governmnet jobs—unions will destroy it before it starts..Go union Go broke..


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