SOUNDING OFF:Harman's enviro thinking is backwards

Dan Walters, a columnist for the Sacramento Bee, wrote at the time of AB 32's consideration that, "Let's assume that global warming is a fact … the lack of a true global commitment is what makes AB 32 an essentially symbolic act. Even if the state's carbon emissions were reduced to 1990 levels as decreed, it would mean nothing if other major economies didn't join the effort."

AB 32's scheduled reduction of emissions is so stringent, it will essentially require action equivalent to the removal of every car, bus, and diesel truck off of the state's roads on top of a sharp reduction in commercial airplane and diesel train transportation. This is the backward thinking of REP et al.

Of course, all of this is par for the course for Harman. No doubt many people are aware, after Harman's recent campaign for the seat, that he has history in the enviro movement as a stalwart supporter of Amigos de Bolsa Chica and author of a now-infamous diaper tax for recycling.

But even while he ran for the State Senate, Harman was hosted at a campaign fundraiser as "the Environmental Candidate for State Senate" by a wealthy group of Laguna Beach Democrats, opposed the Foothill-South toll-road completion, and received plaudits from the hopelessly left-wing California State Parks Foundation. In the Assembly, Harman was one of only four Republicans who voted in favor of AB 32.

I suppose this gets me to a final analysis. Most Republicans look optimistically toward the future, and assume Harman's close election was enough to scare an ounce of rightward, pro-business thought out of him. That's just wrong. Harman is still stir-frying organic veggies and soy, plotting the arrest of California's economic development with organizations like "Republicans for Environmental Protection."