First Name | Frank |
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Last Name | Smathers |
Email Address | thunder1road@gmail.com |
Affiliation | |
Subject | AB 118 UNNECESSARY |
Comment | California is currently suffering with a massive fiscal crisis. Budgets are being slashed for schools, healthcare, police, and other vital services. With that in mind, why would our state government even consider spending millions of dollars to buy worthless clunker cars? The argument that eliminating these old clunkers will significantly reduce air pollution is a false argument. The percentage of older pre-1985 cars that are currently in use as "daily drivers" is less than 2 percent of the total fleet. Most of the pre-1985 cars get bad mileage. No one is driving these cars because they are obsolete and unaffordable to drive at today's gas prices. If you go out and check the street in front of the state capital, you will have to wait a long time to see a pre-1985 car in use. These cars are mostly high-mileage vehicles that are worn out and due to go to the junkyard soon - even without a payment from the state of California. The cost of a major mechanical repair to these old cars is much greater than the value of the car. Many of these cars are parked because they are no longer functional. Why should the state pay thousands of dollars for a car that isn't worth a hundred dollars? Additionally, the owners of these cars can already get tax credits for donating their old car to charity. AB 118 doesn't make much sense, financially, or environmentally. Potentially, the bill could benefit car dealers by giving free state tax dollars to car buyers but the state will probably have to borrow the money to fund the program. Also, the bill might benefit speculators who would buy up old clunkers for a few hundred dollars apiece - which would then be turned in for taxpayer funded vouchers worth thousands more than the price of an old junk car. Two thumbs down on this clunky clunker bill. Please use the money to fund essential state services. |
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Date and Time Comment Was Submitted | 2009-06-03 11:12:39 |
If you have any questions or comments please contact Clerk of the Board at (916) 322-5594.