The Need for a Transportation Plank in Our 2012 CDP Platform

By Michael R. "Mike" Bullock

This is a resolution that I wrote for the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee. It passed with all Yes votes, except for 1 abstension.

WHEREAS, (1) our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions must be controlled, because stabilizing our climate is critical to our future; (2) 39% of California's GHG emissions are caused by transportation and; (3) in order to reach our state's science-based goal of reducing GHG emissions to 1990 levels by 2020 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050, significant transportation policy changes will be required; and

WHEREAS, (1) the cost of transportation is significant to families, communities, companies, our state, and our nation; (2) many transportation facilities are provided by government; (3) highway congestion and fuel-price fluctuations are a frequent source of harm; and (4) highway maintenance and many transit services are threatened by our state's budget problems; and WHEREAS, (1) many citizens realize that government transportation policies need reconsideration; and (2) our current CDP platform has planks on a wide range of subjects but only a few of them are as impactful to the general population as transportation;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the San Diego County Democratic Party Central Committee declares its support for the creation of a transportation plank for the 2012 California Democratic Party (CDP) platform, one that would describe the top-level changes needed to achieve a more equitable, efficient, and environmentally-sound set of transportation policies;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution be sent to the CDP's Platform Committee and to party and state officials, including our Party Chair, our Governor, our Lieutenant Governor; the President Pro Tempore of the California Senate; the Speaker of the California Assembly; the California State Attorney General; and the Chair of the California Air Resources Board.

This resolution was passed by the San Diego Democratic Party Central Committee on January 17th 2012. It was written and submitted by Mike Bullock, San Diego County Central Democratic Party Member (Alternate) and CDP Delegate, 73rd AD, mike_bullock@earthlink.net (760-754-8025). The reference for the 39% GHG emissions from transportation is http://www.californiagreensolutions.com/cgi-bin/gt/tpl.h,content=978.