State Rep Torbett Bringing You Some “Small” Government

Yellow kitchen grease has become as good as gold as gasoline prices soar and biodiesel fuel becomes more appealing.

Just as one industry’s waste becomes a hot commodity for another, a slippery underworld of fry crooks – kitchen-oil rustlers who strike stealthily with siphon and hose – has emerged.

Rep. John Torbett, a Republican from Gaston County, has proposed a bill aimed at reining in the banditry. But the proposal has kicked up a fuss among small North Carolina businesses that see more than a hint of green in the alternate fuel source.

Not only has Torbett proposed to make it illegal to steal or help anyone pirate kitchen grease, he also has called for more regulation of those who resell the waste.

The bill would make it a felony to purloin used kitchen grease valued at more than $1,000, and a misdemeanor for anything less.

It also would require collectors of the waste to be licensed and inspected by the state if they plan to resell the animal fats or vegetable oils as fuel.

And it would require anyone with such an operation to show proof of general liability insurance of at least $1 million.

The News & Observer

This reminds me of the remarks made by former President Reagan in 1986 to the White House Conference on Small Business.  He said, “Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”  John Torbett has apparently taken government’s view to heart.

If theft of kitchen grease is becoming such a problem, ok then, level the fine.  Make it a felony to help cut down on the theft.  Aside from the fact that it’s already illegal to steal anyway, I can’t think of too many reasons to object to that, but the rest of this is nonsense.  It has nothing to do with protecting the restaurants’ “liquid” assets (pun intended yuk, yuk, yuk).  This is about another government official distorting the free market in an effort to play bouncer for big business and keep the little guy out.

“I think this stinks,” said Lyle Estill, a founder of Piedmont Biofuels, a Chatham County cooperative that collects, processes and resells used vegetable oil. “This is just a bunch of Republicans trying to pass a bunch of new regulations to crush the little guy.”

Torbett said Estill’s characterization is incorrect.

The bill, Estill contends, is being driven by large rendering plants, companies scattered across the country that make it big business to sell the waste byproducts to feed farms, makeup companies, soap and detergent factories and other industries.

“The fact that there’s good energy in used kitchen grease is nothing new,” Estill said.

What has happened, he says, is the larger companies are seeing their market shares shrink as more people turn to alternate fuels to power cars, trucks, farm equipment and other machines.

This is so typical.  Do you know how many laws and regulations exist at the behest of large companies and corporations in order to stifle competition?  What vested interest does the State of North Carolina have in requiring these proposed regulations?  They are doing exactly what Estill is claiming, making it tougher for smaller companies to compete and get a foothold in the market.  Larger companies will be able to afford these added requirements should they become law.

Although state larceny laws already could cover such thefts in North Carolina, Torbett said he heard complaints that it was difficult to get such matters prosecuted.

“The courts weren’t looking at it with a degree of seriousness because in their minds it was just people stealing grease,” he said.

Well then, get some competent courts.  Again, the felony provision in Torbett’s legislation will handle the issue of larceny.  There is still no justification for the additional regulations and licensing requirements he is proposing, none whatsoever.  What’s he getting out of this?

John Torbett was an endorsed candidate of the Gaston County Tea Party.  Does this intrusion of government into small businesses and the free market gel with the limited government ideals the tea party claims to hold so dear?

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