Governor Brown recently issued an executive order mandating extreme new energy cuts and plans to fund the program with tens of billions in cap and trade taxes. A lawsuit is currently challenging the plan on the grounds that these costly taxes are illegal under Prop. 13.

Climate Emperor #Brown of #California and the defeat of SB 32. http://t.co/KsFiqOBEum #CARB

— PLF - Pacific Legal (@PacificLegal) September 19, 2015

Last week, the California Legislature resoundingly rejected Governor’s Brown’s efforts to cut carbon dioxide emissions beyond the levels required by AB 32, which requires California to reduce emissions in the state to 1990 levels by 2020. The proposed new law, known oddly enough as SB 32, would have required substantial further reductions in state emissions to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. That was more than even the Democrat-heavy California Assembly could stomach, and the bill was killed on the Assembly Floor.

Undaunted, Governor Brown declared that he would move forward without the legislation in requiring the 80% cuts. He cited his executive order of a few months ago as authority for requiring the drastic and economically hurtful emissions reductions of carbon dioxide, a ubiquitous, natural substance essential to life on this planet. Because carbon dioxide is everywhere and in everything, regulating that substance means regulating virtually every aspect of life. In pursuit of that goal in California, Brown has directed over a dozen state regulatory agencies, spearheaded by CARB, to regulate California’s economic life, including oil production, farming, transportation, construction, and water distribution. Not one aspect of California’s economy will be unaffected....