“Seeing red: jobs initiative to limit California’s AB32 greenhouse gas law will be on the November ballot“. Anthony Watts excerpts a news report about a proposed ballot initiative from the ‘California Jobs Initiative Coalition’ to suspend some of California’s environmental standards “until the economy rebounds”.

Somehow the recession is all the evil environmentalists’ fault. They’re trying to take our jobs away! Even previously reliable Republicans like former U.S. Secretary of State George Shultz are starting to fall for it. Shudder!

Republican Assemblyman Dan Logue says this is “about small business taking a stand for jobs” but that proves not to be the case as this quote, which Anthony helpfully excluded from his post, shows:

The ballot initiative is largely being funded by Texas oil companies that oppose climate regulations in California and similar legislation moving through Congress. Valero Services Inc. has given $500,000, while Tesoro Cos. has given $275,000. [Grass Valley Union. Italics mine.]

Nothing like a little deceitful astroturfing.