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Mandate could force gas stations out of business

Renae

Renae

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Envirowackos 1, hard working people 0.

ARCADIA - Dozens, and potentially hundreds, of gas stations around California are choosing to shut down rather than comply with a state mandate that would require owners to purchase new equipment to reduce vapor emissions at the pump.
The requirement, known as Phase II in the state's Enhanced Vapor Recovery Program, is set to go into effect in April. It requires gas station owners to individually purchase tens of thousands of dollars of equipment designed to prevent harmful vapors from escaping into the air when gasoline is pumped.

But smaller retailers say that the requirement puts an unfair burden on businesses that don't sell enough gasoline to offset the extra cost - and that don't contribute much to the problem in the first place.
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Mandate could force gas stations out of business - Pasadena Star-News

Small businesses, the little guy out there, has to shut down, has to stop earning a living.

I bet ya many of these places will get bought out by bigger companies... gee, you don't think that someone is looking to make money from this... nah.

This is really all about Mother Gaia right?
 
California doesn't know **** about business.
 
I would rather the state government subsidize the purchase of the new equipment, but as the state government can't even pay its bills, it has no business foisting such bills on small businesses, ESPECIALLY when the economy is in the crapper like it is now.
 
ludahai said:
I would rather the state government subsidize the purchase of the new equipment, but as the state government can't even pay its bills, it has no business foisting such bills on small businesses, ESPECIALLY when the economy is in the crapper like it is now.
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Stuff has really hit the fan. I can not believe conservatives are writing stuff like this:shock:
 
I think government should look for ways that help lower pollution without hurting business OR making other people pay for it through handouts and tax monies.

Say... offer a tax break for those that choose to upgrade, there is a conservative solution.
 
ludahai said:
I am an environmentalist. I think CONSERVation of the environment is a conservative principle.
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Just maybe you happen disagree with some of your fellow conservatives? And that is okay IMHO. I've often disagreed with people whom think capitalism is evil incarnate.
 
ludahai said:
I am an environmentalist. I think CONSERVation of the environment is a conservative principle.
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Really? I always hear conservatives saying the state subsidizing stuff is a socialist principle...
 
MrVicchio said:
I think government should look for ways that help lower pollution without hurting business OR making other people pay for it through handouts and tax monies.

Say... offer a tax break for those that choose to upgrade, there is a conservative solution.
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People are going to make bucks of this transition. And those would be business people.
 
winston53660 said:
Just maybe you happen disagree with some of your fellow conservatives? And that is okay IMHO. I've often disagreed with people whom think capitalism is evil incarnate.
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I have no problem disagreeing with my fellow conservatives on various issues. We don't have to march in lock step on everything. We all have our own interpretations of what constitutes conservatism.
 
Hatuey said:
Really? I always hear conservatives saying the state subsidizing stuff is a socialist principle...
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That could be considered a socialist principle...

So too can it be said that massive state involvement in business, instructing them what they must or must not have to do business, and removing their freedom could also be seen as such.

Much like someone that says a lie is not necessarily a "lier", and someone that gives charity one time in his life a "charitable person", so too does having some government involvement or subsidation make you a socialist.

Very few ideologies are truly so extreme. There's conservatives, and then there's hardcore libertarians verging on anarchists.

I do not think that the government of california should be mandating this particular thing.. HOWEVER, if the government is going to go forward with it then I do think its not too out there to say there should be some government aid in the form of some tax breaks or other form of aid to these businesses their forcing to either spend exorbitant fees because government wants to meddle or close up shop.
 
Hatuey said:
Really? I always hear conservatives saying the state subsidizing stuff is a socialist principle...
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Generally speaking, I am not a big fan of it, but in case of conserving the environment, it is ONE tool out there that I suppose the use of. We are doing a TERRIBLE job as stewards of God's creation. I don't see a problem with government subsidies to help small businesses stay in business and maintain environmentally sound business practices at the same time.
 
Question in regards to the original article is do those gas stations get an additional write off on taxes for this purchase?

If so, what is the problem? Just syain
 
TheNextEra said:
Question in regards to the original article is do those gas stations get an additional write off on taxes for this purchase?

If so, what is the problem? Just syain
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I am sure they would get a write-off as a business expense, but apparently these new machines are prohibitively expensive for small operators.
 
MrVicchio said:
Mandate could force gas stations out of business - Pasadena Star-News

Small businesses, the little guy out there, has to shut down, has to stop earning a living.
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Quite a few years ago in Washington state we lost a lot of mom and pop gas stations when a law went into effect that required special underground tanks. I guess it had something to do with emissions. I can't remember the particulars, but I was bummed to see my favorite places go out of business.

I wish they would at least put gas attendants back in Washington. I wouldn't mind paying a little bit more at the pump to put more jobs out there. Oregon still has it. It's illegal to pump your own gas there.
 
ludahai said:
I am sure they would get a write-off as a business expense, but apparently these new machines are prohibitively expensive for small operators.
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Well we are seeing lots of talk about "costs" I would like to see some definitive data on these "costs" compared to normal operational costs.

Seems to me if these costs are low and could be written off this is just a tantrum.

Does anyone have any data on how much extra these costs are to normal operation?
 
The mom and pop gas stations all went out of business long ago because of underground tank regulations.
 
sazerac said:
The mom and pop gas stations all went out of business long ago because of underground tank regulations.
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Mom and pop hardware stations went our of business long ago because of Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot. Where is the outcry there?

As I asked before, can anyone answer, what is the additional operational costs minus the tax cuts for such additions?

Can anyone tell us this, or is this just a tantrum?
 
TheNextEra said:
Mom and pop hardware stations went our of business long ago because of Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot. Where is the outcry there?

As I asked before, can anyone answer, what is the additional operational costs minus the tax cuts for such additions?

Can anyone tell us this, or is this just a tantrum?
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There WAS an outcry. Apparently you didn't hear it or ignored it.
 
ludahai said:
There WAS an outcry. Apparently you didn't hear it or ignored it.
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Again, I ask, what is the additional operational costs minus the tax write off?

Can you answer that or are you just gonna cry "the man is keeping us down"?
 
TheNextEra said:
Mom and pop hardware stations went our of business long ago because of Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot. Where is the outcry there?

As I asked before, can anyone answer, what is the additional operational costs minus the tax cuts for such additions?

Can anyone tell us this, or is this just a tantrum?
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The smaller hardware stores didn't go out of business because of unreasonable government regulation. They went out of business because of competition. There's a difference.

My corner hardware store has thrived the last 20 years despite a nearby Lowes.
 
sazerac said:
The smaller hardware stores didn't go out of business because of unreasonable government regulation. They went out of business because of competition. There's a difference.

My corner hardware store has thrived the last 20 years despite a nearby Lowes.
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Well then you're lucky. If you are a good buisness you can adpapt to these changes.

Again, I ask yet noone has answered, what is the cost minus the write off they get on taxes?

Can anyone answer this or are all the responses emotional and not application?
 
winston53660 said:
Stuff has really hit the fan. I can not believe conservatives are writing stuff like this:shock:
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I don't see how it's incompatible with conservatism to say that if government wants to force a regulation on private businesses, they should help pay for it.
 
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