As an exec in EMS/Heathcare for 30 years, this is what California acute care facilities (hospitals) have billed- this include both private & public orgs. In the 1970's & early 80's it was not unusual to have 2-3 stage II smog alerts monthly in Los Angeles.Inland Impire during the summer months. When the Olympics came to LA (1984 IIRR), the heavy poluters (including diesel trucks) were placed on restrictive operational parameters, facilities that operated on "heavy fuels" (crude oil) were required to stwitch to natural gas and other similar fuels....

For the 1st time in 20 years, you could actually see the mountains,valleys and even salton sea- without one single smog alert of any kind and, yes there was vehiclular traffic, both single vehicles and mass transit.

The bills from healthcare, yes, they may very well be questionable, but, bills were submitted to medi-cal & medi-care & medi-cade, by both public, community owned and corporate owned health care providers, each was reviewed and approved- yes the taxpayer (state & national) paid for every last penny. This went on for 20+ years under numerous administrations and even challenged in the federal courts on one occaision- the results, validated including by the appelliate courts.

BTW, I completely agree with the analysis re: Prius...they just shifted the polution to another source (electrical companies who recieve polution credits) & in the next 8-12 years as all of those batteries (which are not rebuildable) hit our landfills, what can I say. But considering the electric hybrids loose 100% of all braking during transition from electric to gas (and vice versa) for 5-15 seconds, ...what can I say that hasn't been said already.

 

Yes, but this is nothing new.....CARB made similar recommendations (which was passed by the state legislature) for all gasoline powered vehicles in the late 70's (which BTW was forced down to Calif by the federal courts- either reduce your smog or loose 100% of your federal transportation funds)

The autobody paint suppliers have not been able to sell lacquer paints since (starting as a phase in).....1987 (IIRR)

 

Given the drug cartels operations, it won't even be a competitor. again, the feds mandated not just Ca, but the ports on the eastern seaboard clean up their act as well (again,starting back in 2004/5). Long Beach is the 2nd busiest port in the world, Los Angeles, is 4th (IIRR), just like the mexican hwy that was proposed to run exempted from all US Federal vehicle regulations from Mexico to Florida, although we spent a few million analyizing the feasibility, it was killed very quickly by every state.

 

I agree!..........

 

Not because of polution emmiting standards, but Ford was provided US Federal and mexico (incentive) money for establishing a plant there. A fraction of what ADM was "given" 12 years ago (almost $1 billion) in fed re-development $ to go to Mexico, the mexican government took 113 of the most productive family owned farms, then ADM built ag production facilities (which was suppose to provide jobs to replace the lost farm jobs and more), then a couple of years later, closed up shop and left Mexico (for the most part). Part of the issue was that Fords diesels which were to be shipped and sold in Mexico would be exempted from the Mexico tax.