| There were troubles at a refinery in the state of California earlier this month. Gas prices spiked, with motorists in northern parts of the statepaying more than $5. Most people assumed they were related, probably because California gas suppliers had said so. Nolan Finley, however, ferretted out the real story. The official answer was that mechanical problems took a refinery off-line, limiting the supply of fuel. But Californians should have known the real reason without asking: They've larded up their Constitution with environmental rules that make building new refineries impossible, and that also put in place expensive fuel mix mandates to curb pollution.It's what they wanted when they went to the polls, but not, apparently, when they have to pay the piper at the pumps. And because so much of its environmental policy is enshrined in its Constitution by ballot measures, policymakers have little flexibility to protect consumers from price spikes when disaster strikes. Little flexibility, except for asking to waive the traditional change in gas from the summer blend -- intended to reduce smog and safeguard human health -- to the winter blend. Why does Nolan Finley care so much about the price of gasoline? Because, dude, it's California and it's a bunch of Californians who are behind Proposal 3. Besides, he says, it's environmental rules that have pushed up California's unemployment rate to 10 percent. Naturally, he does this without offering evidence. In kinder days,we referred to it as Detroit News Stock Editorial #3. Bereft of actual arguments, he resorts to parochialism. |
