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Two simple requests
| Saturday, Oct 11 2008 4:49 PM
Last Updated: Saturday, Oct 11 2008 4:53 PM
Kern County accepted nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in earmarks when Congressman Bill Thomas retired from government. The money can't be used unless it is matched. So local government seeks to add a "tax" in the form of a surcharge on our PG&E bills to help make that match and keep the earmarks in Kern County.
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Though Alaska has been cited as one of the most active recipients of earmarks, it only accepted about $230 million for the entire state. Shouldn't Kern County show its patriotism by returning all but about $20 million to the government -- i.e., the taxpayers? Surely we are patriotic here in Kern County.
Another suggestion: The Big West refinery seeks to expand and will plant some trees as a sop to the public. I insist that since they are actively polluting the air every day with tons of pollutants, that Big West refinery build a Children's Asthma Hospital in Bakersfield to treat the children they are helping to poison.
PAT BELL
Bakersfield