Sangamon Co. (ECWd) –
State Representative Edgar Gonzalez, Jr., Chicago, has introduced House Bill 1634, seeking to adopt the vehicle emissions standards of California.
The bill is co-sponsored by Representative Janet Yang Rohr of Naperville, and Representative Bob Morgan of Highwood.
The bill basically requires that “Illinois Environmental Protection Agency shall adopt rules to implement the motor vehicle emission standards of the State of California, including, but not limited to the (1) zero-emission vehicle program, (2) low-emission vehicle program, (3) advanced clean trucks program, and (4) heavy-duty low NOx omnibus program, and shall amend the rules within 6 months of any changes to maintain consistency with the California motor vehicle emission standards and Section 177 of the Federal Clean Air Act.” (Full Text of Bill at this link)
The bill is being heard today in the Energy & Environment Committee and currently has over 2,000 opponents to the bill and only 91 proponents according to the Witness Slip Information link for the General Assembly.
While we see numerous problems with the bill, the fact this is an attempt to force Illinois drivers to comply with regulations written by unelected officials in California is probably the most absurd thing we have heard and that is saying something. Where do Illinois drivers get to voice their concerns when California makes new rules? Do they go to California and comply with their Rule Making criteria?
As if having to be subject to the whims of the unelected in California, this bill slaps yet another layer of rules on Illinois drivers by giving the Illinois EPA the power to adopt rules consistent with the standards set by California’s Resources Board. Each time California changes its rules, Illinois EPA has 6 months to amend Illinois rules established by the unelected EPA.
We appear to no longer be governed by the elected but rather controlled by the unelected through rule-making. Allowing another state’s rule making to govern how things are done in Illinois is a whole new level of stupid in our opinion.
We encourage everyone to contact their State Representatives and voice your opinion on this bill.
Those who wish to oppose this bill or support it are encouraged to fill out a witness slip at this link.
HB1634
