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February 18, 2001
Dear Editor:
The VET test increases air pollution
and exploits poor people. This is my conclusion after attending the state
senate committee meeting on the bill to end the VET. As a Libertarian I
found the testimony on the bill most informative. The Federal Government
tries to keep air pollution at a safe level by giving air pollution
credits. These credits are valuable because they control industrial
activity in the Louisville area. The Federal Government also attempts to
limit air pollution by restricting highway money to high pollution areas.
The VET was started 17 years ago as an
effort to reduce automotive emissions so that industries could pollute
more. The purpose was never to reduce air pollution. At best the pollution
is kept right at the edge of the federal standard.
VET promoters took credit for reduced
auto emissions. However, it is more reasonable to give credit to the new
emission control systems on cars. At the hearing the VET promoters
produced no scientific evidence showing that it actually reduces
pollution. The VET actually increases pollution, because we get air
pollution credits to increase industrial pollution on the assumption that
we are reducing pollution from cars. A vote for the VET is a vote for
increased air pollution, not a vote against pollution.
Economic analysis puts the actual cost
of the VET at over 50 million dollars. The brunt of this falls on poor
people who have older model cars. Legislators argue over whether we would
lose over 500 million dollars in federal highway construction money if we
stop the VET. I do not know who is correct about losing the money but the
moral is simple. Increased air polluting industry and road construction
primarily benefits the wealthy company owners and high paid employees
associated with polluting industries and road construction firms. The VET
helps the wealthy by placing a cost burden on the poorer people in the
community and threatening the health of everyone by increasing air
pollution.
Clearly people who care for the
environment and feel that it is wrong to exploit the poor for the benefit
of the wealthy should favor legislation to eliminate the VET. It seems
that Dave Hawpe’s antipathy toward Senator Seum is blinding him to the
fundamental moral issues involved in this bill.
John Kilpatrick
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