California Legislators Vote to Ban Grocery Bags While State Economy Founders
As a sign of just how out of touch are our state legislators in Sacramento, let me relate to you some legislation they’re considering. Now, first of all, some background. The state is in an economic crisis. One in eight California is out of work — and that just based on official unemployment statistics. If you factor in the number who have given up the search, it could go as high as one in five.
Drive along any main thoroughfare in Los Angeles and you’ll find countless vacant storefronts, decorated only with the detritus of the past tenant with signs reading, “For Lease” or “Available” posted on a display window displaying nothing else.
So, via Sonicfrog, I get a link to something my drinking companions brought up last night (wonderful that serendipity, spared me a google search). The California Assembly just voted to increase regulations on private enterprise:
California is poised to take the national and global lead on yet another key environmental issue:single-use paper and plastic bags handed out at grocery, convenience, and other stores.
The state Assembly approved AB 1998 Wednesday, which would require shoppers who don’t bring their own bags to the store to purchase paper bags made of at least 40 percent recycled material or buy reusable totes. The statewide ban, which would go further than plastic bag bans in at least five cities, including San Francisco, would be the nation’s first. It moves on to the Senate Thursday, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said that he supports it – a rare revelation that could aid its passage, according to several observers.
(It passed the Assembly 41-27, with no Republican votes.)
Yeah, that’ll make it easier for entrepreneurs to establish new enterprises. Don’t these legislators have better things to do with their time? They’re more concerned with appeasing the left-wing environmental lobby in the state than actually standing up to the various special interests and for the citizens of California.
The interest groups will applaud, but no new jobs will be created in the private sector. And the cost of doing business will go up.
Kudos to state Republicans for opposing this nonsense.
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I guess this means I’ll have to pay for poop bags. With two big sight hounds, I use quite a few.
And don’t we lose our lovely incandescent bulbs soon?
I really despise my Legislature!!!!!
Comment by Judith L — June 4, 2010 @ 11:52 am - June 4, 2010
The legislature in this state should be a part-time one. The career politicians have entirely too much time on their hands.
Comment by Robert — June 4, 2010 @ 12:06 pm - June 4, 2010
Judith L, you are right. It is the worst of the worst and has been for at least 30 years.
Comment by John W — June 4, 2010 @ 12:11 pm - June 4, 2010
How exactly will this raise the cost of doing business?
IF anything, as it outlaws passing out free bags, it does away with an expense. It forces customers to either bring their own bag, or pay for a bag. How does this cost the store anything?
And how on earth does this inhibit any entrepreneur from starting a business?
Although marginal, it probably will add a few jobs in the tote-making and recycling businesses.
Comment by Tano — June 4, 2010 @ 12:16 pm - June 4, 2010
Well won’t it create more jobs in the… environmentally friendly bag company…which is a growth industry of the future.
Comment by darkeyedresolve — June 4, 2010 @ 1:00 pm - June 4, 2010
Adding another voice for a part-time legislature for California. What a waste of our tax dollars to haggle over shopping bags.
Comment by Juju — June 4, 2010 @ 1:12 pm - June 4, 2010
Well, this fits the script out on the Liberal Western frontier as Washington state is now taxing candy, cookies, soft drinks, etc. because they are not good for you(oh, and they just happen to be broke so the extra tax dollars are needed).
Comment by NebraskaPatriot — June 4, 2010 @ 1:28 pm - June 4, 2010
Meanwhile, Obama declares June GLBT Pride Month. (Sloth, Gluttony, and Greed months to follow). A lousy jobs report and his incompetence on the oil spill make it even more important to ratchet up the pandering.
Comment by V the K — June 4, 2010 @ 4:00 pm - June 4, 2010
As always, I’m happy not to live in California.
Comment by Houndentenor — June 4, 2010 @ 5:10 pm - June 4, 2010
This is wonderful news! With the state government wasting its time pestering consumers over paper grocery bags we can be sure the complete calapse of California is soom to follow.
I can’t think of a U.S. state that is more deserving of the fate.
Comment by Classical Liberal Dave — June 4, 2010 @ 6:19 pm - June 4, 2010
HOw in the hell is the ban on bags going to help the states economy? It doesn´t make any sense. It would if California were a part of Venezuela where Hugo has nationalized the super markets, then it saves the state some money.
Comment by Roberto — June 4, 2010 @ 7:06 pm - June 4, 2010
It’s Paul Pelosi Jr.- Come on. That apple didn’t fall far from the tree!
PS: Love this site. Was referred here by a couple I know. The articles are great and very informative. I also notice you are affiliated with Pajamas TV. AWESOME.
Comment by Equal Justice — June 4, 2010 @ 10:03 pm - June 4, 2010
For those of you who know me, you know I’m working for the David Harmer campaign in CA 11, the only district we have any hope of flipping. I went to Congressman Jerry McNerny’s town hall today, in Danville. Here is what Jerry McNerny thinks a town hall meeting is. Number one, all questions must be cleared ahead of time, number two, no more than 20 people at a time in his meeting, you know those racist Tea Party people might take over. and number three, if he doesn’t like your question, he simply asks his people to remove you.
This is a self described moderate independent Demo, who just happens to vote 97% with Nancy Pelosi. For those of you who care, the public was overwhelming in favor of our protest, Boxer, Pelosi, McNerny, you are all in deep trouble. I heard more horn honking and thumbs up support than I thought was possible. Good bye Jerry.
Comment by John in Dublin CA — June 4, 2010 @ 10:18 pm - June 4, 2010
National Lead, I think not, Australia has had it for a long time with massive disruptions at super markets.
Comment by Boomer Otar — June 5, 2010 @ 12:04 am - June 5, 2010
John in Dublin, good luck and we are certainly pulling for all of you.
I do have to say on the topic, do the Legislators figure they have all the problems of California wrapped up so they can move on to such trivial matters???? Just kidding of course.
Comment by NebraskaPatriot — June 5, 2010 @ 12:06 am - June 5, 2010
Made in China
Comment by ThatGayConservative — June 5, 2010 @ 1:01 am - June 5, 2010
Anyone who is in office in California should be voted out.
Make the people wake up because over 50% of them are not working, contributing, but are working against you by taking your money.
However most of them will not go out and vote.
Go vote to save your state by throwing out all of the Dems.
Comment by Letschecark — June 5, 2010 @ 4:36 am - June 5, 2010
The California legislature is trying to demonstrate that they are not sweating the big stuff by focusing like a laser on the small stuff. They are not about to get caught up in a mere bankruptcy crisis when there is tinkering with social engineering to be done.
Comment by heliotrope — June 5, 2010 @ 7:23 am - June 5, 2010
It wasn’t all that long ago that these same people were promoting plastic bags because paper was wasteful, destroyed forests, etc. You know the arguments. It’s deja vu all over again.
Comment by Adam — June 5, 2010 @ 9:35 am - June 5, 2010
Adam, Yep. I wrote that in my post.
Comment by Sonicfrog — June 5, 2010 @ 10:46 am - June 5, 2010
I always thought “Yeah, but which one is more biodegradable?”
Comment by ThatGayConservative — June 5, 2010 @ 10:49 am - June 5, 2010
5:18 – 7:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hp-BB7R2qo
Comment by ThatGayConservative — June 5, 2010 @ 10:57 am - June 5, 2010
As always, the Golden State is fool’s gold. But what else do you expect from the land of fruits, flakes and nuts?
Regards,
Peter H. – a native Texan
Comment by Peter Hughes — June 5, 2010 @ 11:46 am - June 5, 2010
Peter
It´s not totally populated with crazies. Although not a native, Ronald Reagan, was two time governor before being elected president. Some of those ratrional people are still there. I just hope they can persuade enough of the population to vote send Carly to the Senate, elect Meg Whitman as Governor, and give her a majority in the legislature, which the Terminator never had nor was he able to rein in their profligate ways.
Comment by Roberto — June 5, 2010 @ 12:05 pm - June 5, 2010
#23 – From your mouth to God’s ears.
Regards,
Peter H.
Comment by Peter Hughes — June 5, 2010 @ 1:21 pm - June 5, 2010
Most supermarkets ask you if you want help out to the car.
I think that every time I want plastic bags and get told I cannot have them I will insist on help out to the car.
Heck, maybe EVERY time whether I do or not.
Let the baggers figure out how to properly pack the tiny storage area of a Mini Cooper!
Comment by Nan G — June 5, 2010 @ 3:08 pm - June 5, 2010
County by county, it’s a mostly red state. Unfortunately, the population in the blue areas seem to outnumber the red.
Comment by ThatGayConservative — June 5, 2010 @ 7:07 pm - June 5, 2010
[...] California Legislators Vote to Ban Grocery Bags While State Economy Founders – Gay Patriot [...]
Pingback by Saturday Afternoon – Peaking Out Of My Crypt – Laundry Time , An Ol’ Broad’s Ramblings — June 5, 2010 @ 8:25 pm - June 5, 2010
If you think this is moronic, there is a bill in the state ASSembly to ban aluminum baseball bats. They are used predominately in high school baseball. One, it is less money to have a more permanent aluminum baseball bat. Two, it costs school districts less money. But, don’t let logic stand in the way of a moronic state legislature that can not keep it’s nose out of anything!
Comment by Mark J. Goluskin — June 6, 2010 @ 12:50 am - June 6, 2010
[...] solved all their woes, the California law makers deal with paper vs. plastic. Sort of. Gay Patriot has the [...]
Pingback by Sorta Blogless Sunday Pinup » Pirate's Cove — June 6, 2010 @ 11:45 am - June 6, 2010
Ban aluminum bats? No, but ithere should be a choice if a school district prefers, and has the funds, to buy wooden, so be it. I prefer the sound of a hit by a wooden bat to the ping of an aluminum one. I just hope the Bigs never go that route.
Comment by Roberto — June 6, 2010 @ 2:06 pm - June 6, 2010
Instead of admonishing the CA legislature for moving forward with AB 1998 while there are pressing economic concerns, I applaud them for being able to walk and chew gum at the same time.
I actually want my government to do things like this, just as I’m pleased that my government has mandated fuel efficiency standards, and mandated recycling, for examples. If a filthy earth and ever-larger landfills are things that provide you great satisfaction, then I suppose you would be opposed to such legislation.
Disclosure: I reside on the east coast, not California.
Comment by Richard R. — June 6, 2010 @ 2:30 pm - June 6, 2010
Unfortunately, Richard R., your leftist attitude blinds you to the fact that they are NOT doing two things at once.
They are passing pointless legislation like this while ignoring and flat out lying about the state’s complete economic instability, horrible business climate, and other problems.
But again, you demonstrate nicely the problem with liberal intellect: you simply are not capable of thinking that there might be a better or different way to do things. No, if you oppose this law, you want a filthy earth and bigger landfills. That’s the only thing you are capable of saying or doing, and it demonstrates that you really are not capable of understanding or recognizing basic consequences.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — June 6, 2010 @ 3:47 pm - June 6, 2010
North Dallas Thirty, “you demonstrate nicely” how the Republicans are the party of “NO!”
Since I’m “simply not capable of thinking that there might be a better or different way to do things,” please tell us about a better way to achieve a cleaner earth and smaller landfills, since hopefully we agree that those are worthy goals. I would prefer there to be a way to achieve them without government action – really, I would.
Comment by Richard R. — June 6, 2010 @ 6:08 pm - June 6, 2010
Of course. Choose to consume less and recycle more.
My Depression-era grandparents, despite being conservative, religious, and staunch Republicans, generated less carbon and trash, and recycled more, than any of the so-called “greenies” I’ve ever seen in San Francisco.
With very simple, common-sense answers:
1) They only bought what they could afford
2) They walked whenever they could
3) They took one large trip instead of multiple small ones
4) They reused as much as they could of things until they just plain fell apart or were destroyed
No government action required. Just common sense.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — June 6, 2010 @ 8:02 pm - June 6, 2010
This is what happens when 60 years of Progressive Liberalism infect a country. Support and vote in Conservatives this November.
Comment by Black Sabbath — June 6, 2010 @ 8:10 pm - June 6, 2010
North Dallas Thirty,
I thought we would agree that a cleaner earth and smaller landfills are worthy goals, but I now realize that I was foolish.
Your grandparents seem like decent people with admirable qualities, but if you are just waiting around for those qualities to be adopted by enough people to make even a small dent in the problem, then you are simply not serious about solving that problem.
Comment by Richard R. — June 7, 2010 @ 9:29 am - June 7, 2010
Hey, NDT…. Stop telling me how to live!!!!
Comment by Sonicfrog — June 7, 2010 @ 11:55 am - June 7, 2010
And what are you going to do, Richard R.? Compel people to behave themselves?
If so, I know exactly where you can start.
Or here, or here, or lecture Nancy Pelosi about her multiple houses and vineyards, not to mention the immense amount of fuel she wastes flying a massive government jet between DC and San Francisco regularly.
Now, if you were being consistent, you would be yelling your head off at these liberals and Obama supporters. But again, your only interest in the “environment” is to use it as a cudgel to force other people to do what you want them to do.
Comment by North Dallas Thirty — June 7, 2010 @ 12:00 pm - June 7, 2010
North Dallas Thirty,
I don’t like the hypocrisy displayed via your web links any more than you do. But those examples really don’t change anything of substance. They just allow you to rant about liberals and Obama (again).
I thought maybe you were wondering if I were another one of those hypocrites. And since you didn’t ask, I’ll tell you anyway:
My partner and I live near the center of a large east coast city in a rowhouse that is less than 900 sq. ft., including a finished portion of the basement. It has central air which we prefer to keep off except when the heat feels intolerable.
We have one small fuel efficient car which typically sits parked for a week at a time between uses. My partner has been walking to work (a half hour each way) for about 27 years. He could drive but parking is very expensive, or he could take a bus but chooses not to. I work at home.
We had been recycling for several years prior to city pick-up by taking our stuff to a recycling place a couple of miles away. Now, thanks to government action, we have weekly pick-up where it is mandatory for people to separate trash and recyclables.
Now, I do NOT claim that our living choices are due to environmental concerns (alhough my partner IS much more environmentally aware than me). But basically, we are just frugal, just like your grandparents.
You asked, “And what are you going to do, Richard R.? Compel people to behave themselves?” Well, YES, actually. Although I wouldn’t phrase it quite like that.
While I don’t know where you stand personally on other issues, you apparently are on the political right which means you are aligned with those who are eager to have government impose their will on social issues which have no impact on their own lives except in thier delusional minds. I, on the other hand, am willing to support government action on issues that offer a demonstrable tangible benefit to the greatest number of people and/or animals.
You seem to be more consumed with indulging your phobias than you are with rationally considering options that might actually imporove the world for all of us. It’s often been said that Republicans are particularly adept at motivating people to vote against their own self-interest.
Comment by Richard R. — June 7, 2010 @ 2:25 pm - June 7, 2010
This is all about the TAX money involved. I’m all for a cleaner planet and being good stewards of our environment, but please. Be realistic. GREEN economy and GREEN jobs are ALL about money and control. Are you not sick to death of the millionare elites and their “Do as as I say, not as I do” attitude? Al Gore with his 10 homes does not seem worried about his OWN carbon footprint? I wonder how the PELOSI family really lives? I’ve seen her JET!
Recycle if you can, but to be forced to by government regulations and TAXES shows the true intent.
Comment by Equal Justice — June 7, 2010 @ 3:09 pm - June 7, 2010