Leave it to a Texan to spin a subsidy of plug-in hybrids as a “damn the greenies and all things Washington, DC” move. Hard to believe, but that is what Gov. Rick Perry just did in his recent State of the State address. It’s an entertaining read for those who enjoy reading between the lines. Perry starts by decrying big spending interventionist government; then goes on to ask for more money for the state’s Emerging Technology Fund, Film Incentives, Enterprise Fund, Skills Development Fund, the Texas Grant Program, the Workforce Commission’s Skills Development Fund …. well, you get the idea. But wait, this is The Truth About Cars, not The Truth About Government (someone start that site, ‘kay?).
Gov. Rick gets around to our favorite topic thus: “Unfortunately, our strength in petrochemical production and refining makes us a big target on the radar of an increasingly activist EPA, whose one-size-fits-all approaches could severely harm our energy sector; an agency whose potential to harm our state with punitive actions will only increase in the months and years to come.
Rather than wait for more mandates and punishments for environmental non-attainment, let’s continue encouraging innovation. I support giving Texans in the non-attainment areas of our state a $5,000 incentive towards a purchase of Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles.”
Damn those infernal interfering bureaucrats in Washington, let’s do our own greenwashing before they even ask us to! Since there aren’t any plug-in hybrids for sale yet we can look like we are taking bold action while actually not spending a dime.
But wait, to power these subsidized plug-in hybrids, Texas will need new nuclear plants, zillions of windmills and massive transmission lines to connect them all. Some pesky private property owners keep getting in the way of the Texas Central Committee’s vision, hence “eminent domain will play a role in this effort.”
It takes a real master to pitch more government spending, government led industrial policy, the taking of private property through eminent domain and plug-in hybrid subsidies as conservatism. God Bless Texas.
Rick is an idiot. The sooner Kay Bailey Hutchinson kicks him to the curb in the next elections, the better for all of us.
Governor Good Hair has been working up the gumption for a Texas sized land swindle since he came to office in the form of the “Trans Texas Corridor”, a massive toll road, railroad and pipeline corridor running from San Antonio to Dallas.
To his credit, the EPA does tend to be a bit of a horses ass in Texas. Many “bad air” days in Central Texas happen in the spring, when the Mexicans start their slash ‘n burn land clearing. The smoke and ash can settle over Central Texas. Not a damn thing we can do about it, but the EPA counts those days against our allotment anyway.
And, you gotta love “Ozone Action Days”. “Avoid excessive idling during the day”. Right. Here is Officer Pork Belly, sitting in his squad car, A/C blasting to the max, lights going, blocking off that lane for the continued construction that happens in the area. Sweet!
Bruce
It takes a real master to pitch more government spending, government led industrial policy, the taking of private property through eminent domain and plug-in hybrid subsidies as conservatism. God Bless Texas.
Truer words were never spoken. He is truly a master of deceit and sell-out.
I’m proud to be one of the pesky landowners that fought his TT Corridor/land theft tooth and nail.
I can’t wait to vote against Perry again. For just about anybody! Perry has been a disaster from the word go. Fortunately, at least of the Trans-Texas Corridor has gone away.
Another vote against Perry here.