OOIDA Call to Action – California members
October 19, 2010

Dear Member,

Along with important races for elected officials on the Nov. 2 ballot, the California statewide ballot includes another important issue that addresses the possible suspension of a greenhouse gas law. It is imperative that you become involved in this important issue.

Approved by lawmakers in 2006, the greenhouse gas law allows the California Air Resources Board to create many new regulations. Specific to trucking, authority was given to formulate several trucking regulations aimed at curbing greenhouse gas emissions, including the state’s drayage rule and truck retrofit rule.

Proposition 23 on next month’s ballot would tie implementation of the law, known as AB32, to California’s unemployment rate. If approved, the emissions requirement would be suspended until the unemployment rate is 5.5 percent or less for a full year.

The state’s unemployment rate for the first two quarters of 2010 was above 12 percent.

The OOIDA Board of Directors recently voted unanimously to support Prop 23. The board agreed that current economic conditions make a delay in further regulations not only appropriate, but critical to restoring financial health for small business truckers.

It is noteworthy to point out that Prop 23 would not stop some of the current CARB rulemakings from going into effect, such as the TRU regulation and the truck and bus rule. But it would put a lock and chain on CARB and prevent them from moving forward on some of their more burdensome regulations that are being discussed, including a requirement that would lead to costly reformulated diesel.

Truckers and others who vote in California have every reason to support Prop 23 on Election Day. This is an opportunity to curb CARB’s plans with your vote. If left unchecked, the plans could become a standard that every other state can adopt.

In California, registered voters may already vote early in person, no excuse required. For information on voting in your home county, click here.

Polling locations are open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Please vote!!