Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer and GOP candidate Carly Fiorina agree on next to nothing. Which granted, isn't much of a surprise, given the fact that Fiorina is campaigning to unseat Boxer this November. Their latest tango over policy has to do with Proposition 23. Proposition 23 if passed, would essentially overturn AB 32, California' s 2006 law that cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. Proponents such as Fiorina argue that Prop. 23 would bring sorely needed jobs to California. Opponents like Boxer argue that Prop. 23 is a ploy by big oil to set green technology in California back.
At first glance, Prop 23 seems to be exactly what supporters says it is. The official website calls it 'The California Jobs Initiative', citing the jobs they claim will be saved. A closer look at the text of Prop 23 reveals that it suspend AB 32 until unemployment drops down to 5.5% for a year. In other words, indefinitely. A look at the list of contributors to the Yes on 23 campaign also raises some alarm bells. The top contributor, at over a million dollars, is Valero Services Inc, a Texas based oil firm. Other top oil firms such as Tesoro have made large donations to the Yes on 23 campaign. When big oil gets in on politics, the results are rarely pleasant for environmentalists.
If Prop 23 loses at the polls this fall, it won't matter. The attorney generals of Alabama, Nebraska, North Dakota and of course, Texas are threatening to sue California if AB 32 is not overturned, out of concerns over interstate commerce. If Californians want to keep AB 32, we're in for a Hell of a fight.
Comments
The California Jobs Initiative (CJI) is an oil corporation farce and fraud. There is no connection, whatsoever, between greenhouse gas emission reduction and the loss of jobs. This notion is an insult to the intelligence of the people of California. In fact, there is job growth in the clean, renewable energy industry. Chevron employs 65,000 worldwide and CJI is not going to change this. The only jobs created by the oil industry are clean-up jobs after oil spills and deep water, blow-outs and pump-handler jobs. CJI will make fantastic profits for the oil industry, increase air pollution, especially in communities around their refineries, and there will not be lower gas prices. Both Valero and Tesoro ae super Enrons. Since when did the oil companies start to show any concern for the unemployed and their families?
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