Washington Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on January 30, 2012

Click here to view bill details.

 Not only NO but HELL NO!

This bill wants to penalize people who cannot afford newer cars $150, as well as those who opt out of paying the Electric company or oil company or gas company for heat by charging the people $150 to heat with wood, on top of the extra $600 it takes to buy a woodburning stove/fireplace that is "approved" by the legislature.

VOTE THE RATBASTARDS OUT! 

I listened to the public hearing on this bill and came to the conclusion it doesn't make sense. Surprise, surprise! It simply forces vehicle owners who fail the emissions test to pay a fine to keep their vehicle on the road with that fine going to help a low-income homeowner replace their woodstove. But it isn't just the vehicle owner who pays, it's all the taxpayer's of the county which will be required to subsidize the remaining cost of replacing the homeowner's woodstove. So the vehicle is still emitting pollution but the supporters of the bill can feel good about themselves because they are redistributing the wealth of vehicle owners and country taxpayer's to homeowners. Thus, it doesn't solve the intent of the bill-to reduce air pollution.

It makes some sense to me actually: driving really old cars is discouraged. No matter how you put it there will still be a category of population that is disadvantaged by a bill of this type. Also I think we need more strict regulations on smog check, times are changing, we should always try to see the big picture.