Thursday, 17 February 2000

http://www.azstarnet.com/public/dnews/LX8141.html

PHOENIX
Arizona motorists may get more choices to drive lower-polluting cars.
A divided House of Representatives voted yesterday to require at least 0.1 percent of all new cars sold in the state beginning next year to be powered by ``alternative fuels.'' That figure would increase until it hits 1 percent in 2003.
Included in eligible vehicles are those powered by natural gas, hydrogen, electricity, solar and certain combinations that use petroleum-based fuels.
House Speaker Jeff Groscost, R-Mesa, said the measure is designed to light a fire under manufacturers. Groscost, who has been a paid political consultant to presidential candidate Sen. John McCain, said the campaign was frustrated when it could not find an alternative-fuel vehicle.
Rep. Carolyn Allen, R-Scottsdale, said the free market should determine what manufacturers sell, not the Legislature.
The 34-25 vote sends HB 2382 to the Senate.

Senate votes to relax limits on truckers' hours

PHOENIX
Truckers hauling produce and other farm supplies will be able to drive 16 hours a day under the terms of legislation approved yesterday by the Senate.
The legislation, SB 1448, would create an exemption from the existing statutes that limit drivers to 10 hours a day on the road. The measure goes to the House.
Sen. Herb Guenther, D-Tacna, one of the sponsors, said the change was sought by truckers who haul produce between fields and processing plants. He said the 10-hour limit causes problems because they often wait long periods while the produce is being loaded.
Guenther said the exemption is limited to cases in which the truck is going no more than 100 miles between the farm and processing plant. He said that will ensure that drivers are not on the road for 16 continuous hours.
He said the legislation, similar to a California law, has the backing of both the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Transportation.

Plan to protect farm animals is rejected

PHOENIX
Lawmakers refused yesterday to require dairy farms to either feed a calf or destroy it.
After extensive debate, the House of Representatives rejected an amendment its backers said is needed to promote more humane treatment of animals. The same proposal also would require that sick animals be treated by a veterinarian or killed humanely.
Rep. Kathleen Dunbar, R-Tucson, said a change in law is necessary because it is not unusual for a dairy farmer, presented with a newborn male calf, to simply let it starve to death. Dunbar said she isn't requiring that the calf be kept alive, as it may have no economic value, but simply that it not suffer.
Foes of the bill said her proposal is unrealistic.
Rep. Bill McGibbon, R-Green Valley, said it is virtually impossible to get a veterinarian to come immediately to a ranch to treat an injured animal. He said the measure, if approved, would force him to destroy the animal.
Howard Fischer, Capitol Media Services

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