July 16, 2008
By Nancy Vogel
Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
SACRAMENTO -- Saying California children shouldn't breathe soot so people across the country can buy cheap televisions, legislators today voted to impose a fee on every container moving through the ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland.
The money -- at least $400 million a year -- would be used to ease the traffic congestion and air pollution generated by ports that move more than 40% of the nation's goods. Similar bills were vetoed or failed in the last two years, but author Sen. Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) said he is optimistic that his measure would be signed into law soon.
"We have built a statewide coalition to support the container fee," he said.
His measure would impose on shippers a fee of $60 for every typical-size cargo container leaving or entering the ports. The money would be used across Southern California for such projects as installing cleaner-burning truck and train engines and building roadways under or over railroad tracks to avoid long lines of idling vehicles.
The Assembly voted 45 to 24 to pass Lowenthal's bill, SB 974. The Senate is expected to give final approval to amendments soon. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has offered no official position on the bill, but said through spokeswoman Rachel Cameron that "we do support finding a solution to ensure California's air quality is protected while facilitating the movement of goods throughout the state."
Democrats praised the measure as a smart way to try to mitigate the foul air and clogged roads that are a byproduct of the ports' immense economic activity.
Assemblywoman Betty Karnette (D-Long Beach) said people are dying of pollution in her district, and shippers bringing in cheap imports from China and elsewhere should pay.
"Who is profiting? I don't think it's our workers profiting from all these imports," she said. "Other countries are profiting at our expense."
Republicans predicted that the measure would push up the prices of many products and drive business to other West Coast ports such as Seattle.
"We can't be competitive, folks," said Assemblyman Rick Keene (R-Chico), "if we continue to tax the economic engine of the state."
Only one Republican member of the Assembly -- Bob Huff of Diamond Bar -- voted for the measure.
Huff said portions of eight freeways are in his district, all of them clogged with trucks hauling cargo.
"This is huge," he said. "If we don't fund (congestion improvements) through this, what do we fund it through?"
Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times