Smogged In

The measure would prevent "efforts by California and other states to reduce the pollution spewed by small gasoline engines in machines such as lawn mowers, tractors, forklifts and chain saws...The amendment...represents a major setback for the state's strategy for fighting the smog that continues to plague Southern California despite half a century of pollution-control efforts...The measure is the latest in a series of actions by the Bush administration or the GOP-controlled Congress to challenge or curtail California's environmental laws on issues including offshore oil drilling and hybrid cars." The measure's supporters believe that it will preserve thousands of manufacturing jobs. However, "the result [of the measure] could be 170 more tons of smog-forming emissions daily, a 4% increase in total emissions statewide...'It will be equivalent to putting another 2.5 million cars on the road,' " said a member of the California Air Resources Board.

Thanks to David Gest