Assembly Balks at Punishing the Poor
(September 10, 2015) The state Assembly’s revolt against a provision of a sweeping energy measure that would have required Californians to reduce their gasoline consumption by half over the next 15 years was depicted by Gov. Jerry Brown as a triumph of villainous oil companies. But that characterization doesn’t do justice to the legitimate concerns of moderate Democrats – often representing impoverished communities – who argued that the cost of the mandate would stagger their poor constituents. (The San Diego Union-Tribune, 09/10/2015)