Why Should "Breathers" Vote Against Prop. 23 This November?

by Neal Richman, Breathe LA Director of Programs and Advocacy

At Breathe LA, we call our many supporters Breathers. Now, a significant threat to improving air quality has made its way onto the November ballot.  Our first step is to make sure that all Breathers understand the importance of voting "No" on Proposition 23.

This proposition is an effort to roll back targets for lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) emission that were established by the Governor and legislature in the historic, California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, also known by the acronym, AB 32. Voters are confused by Proposition 23 for many reasons. The public must understand that our efforts to reduce GHG emissions remain critical, in part, because such actions will lower levels of air pollution that damage our health.
 
A primary way to address global warming is by reducing our reliance on the combustion of fossil fuels to produce energy.   By utilizing more alternative technologies and energy sources, such as low/no emission vehicles and renewable power, we can reduce the types of air pollutants that harm our respiratory system.  Proposition 23 is not only an attack on our State's commitment to slow global warming; its passage would especially endanger the physical wellbeing of many vulnerable residents who suffer from asthma, COPD and similar conditions. 
 
Too often overlooked in the debate around Proposition 23 are the costs-both personal and economic-if we fail to address our dangerous air pollution crisis.  Based on mid-decade data, within California, approximately 2 million adults and more than 800,000 children have asthma.  Over a one year period, there were approximately 145,000 asthma-related Emergency Department visits and 36,000 asthma hospitalizations.  Most distressing is that in one year approximately 450 people died due to asthma.  The total cost for asthma hospitalization in California was more than $750 million over a one year period.  Of course, the cost of asthma hospitalizations represents only a portion of the total expense and does not include other types of health care utilization, medications, and indirect costs due to factors such as school missed and work missed.
 
The research behind Proposition 23 has been widely discredited by leading economists.  Moreover, many see opportunities for new job growth in the "green sector" if the State continues to lead in global efforts to decrease GHGs.  The fact remains that there is no clear evidence to indicate that lowering our environmental standards will create jobs or that reasonable environmental regulations will take them away.     
 
What can you do?  First of all inform your friends and colleagues about Proposition 23 so that they have the facts.   If you are interested in doing more, such as participating in a Speakers Bureau (after some training), please contact us and we will connect you to campaign resources.  
 
When BREATHE LA waged successful campaigns to clean up our air basin in the 1960s and 1970s, our supporters were there with us and made the difference.  Once again, we look to you to inject fresh air into the discussion over Proposition 23, a very stale set of anti-environmental policies.