July 16, 2008
By Joe Stevens
Staff Writer
LONG BEACH - The California State Assembly approved Sen. Alan Lowenthal's long-delayed, revenue-generating port bill on Tuesday that is expected to reach the governor for approval.
The Ports Investment Bill, SB 974, was approved with a 45-23 vote and will go to the Senate for an expected concurrence. It will then reach Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for possible passage.
Lowenthal has been working on variations of the bill for more than four years and says he is "extremely optimistic" Schwarzenegger will sign it.
"It's a major step forward," Lowenthal said. "It's not over yet. When the governor signs it, then we'll celebrate. We never celebrate until it's over."
Two versions of the bill failed with Schwarzenegger vetoing one of them in 2006. Then last year, Schwarzenegger told Lowenthal not to bring the bill to a vote because he wanted to make sure retailers had a chance to offer alternatives before it went through the assembly.
One major change in the bill is that it includes the port of Oakland. The bill places a $30 fee on shipping containers that come through the Ports of Long Beach, Los Angeles and Oakland. With 16 million containers expected to be affected, that would bring it $480 million.
Half of those funds would be spent to reduce pollution, and half would be spent to alleviate congestion and improve safety for rail systems connected to the ports.
Lowenthal and proponents of the bill see it as a major benefit for the environment. In addition, Lowenthal has worked with the governor in an effort to push through a bill that answers his concerns.
"This is a bill who's time has come," said Martin Schlageter, campaign director for the Coalition for Clean Air. "It's highly popular, broadly supported and fair. If it's approved, it will save lives. The governor can support that or veto it with no alternatives to it."
If the state Senate is forced to reconvene during its recess because of budgeting, it is expected to concur the bill and pass it to Schwarzenegger any time between Monday and Aug. 4. If the state Senate does not reconvene during recess, it is expected to be passed to him on Aug. 4.
"We met with the retailers many, many times," Lowenthal said. "They were donig business as usual, saying things like, `Why don't you have the truckers pay?' They didn't have any viable solutions."
Copyright 2008 Long Beach Press-Telegram