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This is one of the most sensible bills to come around in a long time – Alberto Torrico’s AB 656 would fund our higher education – which as you’ve noticed is going through a major funding crisis – through an oil severance fee. We are the only oil-producing state in the nation that doesn’t have one! (And this at a time of record profits for the big oil companies.)
I already know what some of you are going to argue – “the fee will just be passed on to consumers at the pump.” Hogwash! (Although that’s what the oil companies will tell you.) Never forget that oil is a worldwide industry and market. The fact that Big Oil will have to pay a certain percentage for the relatively small amount they extract from California will add at most a tiny fraction of a penny to prices – all over the globe. And meanwhile we’ll be funding our UC and CSU systems to the tune of at lea
st an extra 2 billion a year, ensuring a future for our young people and an endless supply of educated Californians for this century.
This especially makes good sense seeing that it’s probably inevitable there will soon be offshore drilling greenlit off the California coast. Fortunately the technology is much safer than it was in the oil spill days of the 70s; the main objection these days come from wealthy coastal dwellers who object to the possible “eyesore” – but these platforms will be fifty miles off. With this windfall coming to Big Oil at our expense, the LEAST they can do is fund our Californian kids’ education, don’t you think? YES ON AB 656!
Details on the rally over the flip:
Our campaign is heating up. With 75,000 grassroots supporters and over 11,000 fans on Facebook, it’s time to send our message to Big Oil – pay your Fair Share for Fair Tuition. And now, we need your help.
Tuition costs are skyrocketing. And we can no longer sit back and watch these budget cuts cripple California’s higher education. It’s time to take action to save our students and faculty, our colleges and universities.
You’re invited to join the movement on Tuesday, April 6, when we will rally for AB 656 in Los Angeles.
When: Tuesday, April 6, 11 a.m.
Where: Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park
25820 Vermont Avenue, Harbor City, CA 90710If you’d like to take a leadership role in the movement for Tuesday, please contact my campaign manager, Rudy Gonzalves, at Rudy@AlbertoTorrico.com or 818-201-8455.
PLEASE INVITE YOUR FRIENDS TO RSVP IN SOLIDARITY!
**Facts About AB 656:**
* AB 656 would impose a 12.5% oil severance fee to raise up to $2 billion a year for California’s higher education.
* California is the only major oil-producing state in the country without an oil severance tax.
* AB 656 would finally create a permanent, stable funding source for California higher education.If you’re not able to join us on Tuesday, I hope you will join the movement by signing our petition to raise $2 billion a year for higher education here: http://www.albertotorrico.com/Fair-Share-for-Fair-Tuition
Join the movement on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/FairTuition
Learn more about my campaign for Attorney General: http://www.AlbertoTorrico.com
Hey Vern, you’re full of crap, as usual.
But then, what do I know, I’m just a whistling weenie!
Ouch! OUCH! Why do I keep hitting myself?
Alberto Torrico – voted for the largest tax increase in state history…
And every other tax increase that has been proposed… screwing the poor he claims to represent.
Harvey Milk Day
AB32
Against Oil Drilling (even as gas was $4 a gallon at the time) – again screwing the poor he claims to represent.
Bloated Union Contracts – escalating the cost of goods and services – again screwing the poor he claims to represent…
And you’re upset over an offhand Dog comment?
Funding higher education is like giving more crack to crack addicts.. except its not crack its money!
Highest paid teachers in the nation and grants up the ying yang and they want more and more and more…
Sergeant York.
1. This post is not about Alberto’s whole record, it’s about one great bill. But fine.
2. What’s this “largest tax increase in history” that you’re always going on about, and how many people voted for it?
3. Harvey Milk Day is GOOD in my book, and so is AB 32, which I’ll be defending a lot in coming months.
4. Trying to stop offshore drilling is not something I’d go to the mat for, it’s probably inevitable as oil supplies dwindle. Best to just focus on doing it as safely as possible. But I wouldn’t hold anyone’s pro-environment vote against them. And who cares that gas happened to be $4 right then, do you know how long it would take for new offshore drilling to impact prices?
5. I don’t really feel upset about an “offhand Dog comment.” Maybe just a little disappointed in you, but I’m learning what to expect. It got my attention because my name was in it. But what you’re really doing is comparing same-sex marriage to bestiality. Not a new “joke,” Terry Crowley, Rick Santorum, and Chuck DeVore all beat you to it. Ugly and stupid though.
Michelle Quinn,
“Funding higher education is like giving more crack to crack addicts.. except its not crack its money!”
What exactly do you mean by that comment? Your little flippant, meaningless remarks just showcase what a friggin’ moron you are, I suggest you show some self-respect and SHUT-UP!
“Highest paid teachers in the nation and grants up the ying yang and they want more and more and more…”
California’s University professors are nowhere near the top in pay, but hey, what are facts when all you want to do is slime educators. I doubt MQ has even laid foot on a UC campus, let alone UNDERSTANDS what transpires there. I bet she’s also clueless to how vital higher education is to our economic well-being, other countries are investing in their future through education and one of the ways they do that is by NOT burdening students with a MOUNTAIN OF DEBT.
Vern,
This sounds like a good Bill, I agree with you on the oil drilling being inevitable, if we’re smart we’ll at least make sure we get some benefits out of it. Thanks for bringing it to everyone’s attention and for the links.
“The unused rooftops of America, over 10,000 square miles, could more than supply all of our energy, even if all of our transport were electric plug-in cars and electric trains, trollies and buses. Just cover them with solar panels; millions of jobs would be created making and deploying these panels, taking people out of the offshore oil drilling industry and putting them into jobs with a future.”
so what’s it gonna be vern?
mentallyunsound,
What’s the matter, reading comprehension not your strong suit?
“This especially makes good sense seeing that it’s probably inevitable there will soon be offshore drilling greenlit off the California coast.”
“….. With this windfall coming to Big Oil at our expense, the LEAST they can do is fund our Californian kids’ education, don’t you think? YES ON AB 656!”
Vern’s position seems pretty clear to me, but then again I got past the 3rd grade.
What’s the matter, reading comprehension not your strong suit?
No..i can read just fine. Here’s something for you to read:
REGION: President Bush proposes offshore oil drilling
Oil-rich basin off North County could yield 1 billion barrels
GARY WARTH – Staff Writer | Posted: June 18, 2008 12:00 am
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/sdcounty/article_1f5beecf-d0c8-5524-877e-5268f60c3676.html
Even if this bill passes, it’s going to take time for the money to start flowing. If bush got his way you (CA) would have been 2 years ahead of the game.
And yes Vern… “Fortunately the technology is much safer than it was in the oil spill days of the 70s;” DUH!
Of course isn’t that much safer than it was in 2008. So why the change of heart?
Don’t misunderstand me, I’m glad that obama is following Palin’s “drill baby drill” lead. I’ve alway been for offshore drilling. You people are the ones making the paradigm shift. Explain yourself.
mentallyunsound,
We do NOT believe drilling for oil off the coast of California is a good idea (just inevitable, because neanderthals like you will do the cheerleading on behalf of big oil) ), alternative energy is a much better plan, BUT if there is drilling, we want to make sure Californians get something out of it, is that SIMPLE enough for you?
(just inevitable, because neanderthals like you will do the cheerleading on behalf of big oil)
So…being a neanderthal, let me make sure i have this straight. When oil was peaking at about $150 per barrel and gas prices were out of control and “BIG OIL BUSH” was president of the united states…offshore drilling was NOT inevitable? But now with obama and his “green team” EPA in charge, offshore drilling is inevitable? Do you realize how phucking stupid you sound?
Having fun this morning playing with yourself, middleground? I don’t see any quotes of ME there in all your 2008 quotes, and there’s not even a contradiction in your #6 comment. But you just keep whacking away at those straw men OK?
Thanks for dealing with this nuisance while I slept in, anonster.
Having fun this morning playing with yourself, middleground? I don’t see any quotes of ME there in all your 2008 quotes, and there’s not even a contradiction in your #6 comment. But you just keep whacking away at those straw men OK?
Thanks for dealing with this nuisance while I slept in, anonster.
both of you are fucking retarded.
Middleground is a troll from the east coast who somehow discovered that faroff Orange County’s feisty Orange Juice Blog is the “right room for an argument.” Unfortunately he is constitutionally incapable of grasping NUANCE.
On the other hand, I really don’t want to give anyone else the idea that I’m now “supporting” offshore drilling just because Obama is making moves in that direction (in what seems like probably a doomed attempt to get GOP votes for his energy bill.) I’m unenthusiastic and concerned about it now just as I was in 2008. And just like in 2008 I don’t consider it a fight that environmentalists can win, so I don’t try.
Middleground has me thinking about 2008 though, when a couple of things were different. Not just was everybody desperate because prices were OVER 4 and seemingly inching toward 5, but more importantly, the issue was being used as a political football in the Presidential campaign, with chronic liar McCain trying to give Americans the idea that untramelled drilling would immediately bring prices down (when really it would take at least a decade and be very minimal.)
Just the same, my position hasn’t changed since 2008 (when I discussed these issues daily with energy expert and then-congressional-candidate Debbie Cook.) Here are some of my articles from that time, and now middleground can go and take a short walk on a long pier:
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/drilling-our-way-to-energy-independence/
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/06/jest-sittin-on-my-oil/
http://orangejuiceblog.com/2008/05/gas-tax-holiday-whos-yanking-your-chain/
I like this bill, I would like it even better if 15 % of the money was earmarked for renewable energy and conservation
Yes drilling is likely off the coast and it seems to me we hear more problems lately with tankers delivering imported oil having a major leak or splill rather than one from an oil platform or drilling.
But we have to reduce our use of imported oil to reduce the trade deficit with is out of control.
E-mail inquiry: “Vern, didn’t you mean that middleground should take a LONG walk on a SHORT pier?”
Vern response: Absolutely not, dear reader, I wouldn’t wish middleground to drown. Especially not in the cold, nasty Atlantic which is where he seems to hang his hat. That would be unChristian of me.
I want him to take a SHORT walk on a LONG pier – so that he doesn’t get to the end, and has no walk left in him to turn back, and is thus stranded on the pier (sans laptop) for an indeterminate number of weeks.
There, he will grow grizzled and weathered. There, he will learn to beg, and eventually, to fish.
Oh yeah finally let’s remember, this post is not ABOUT offshore drilling – it’s about making the oil companies pay their fair share to California and help us with our education funding.
Here I have to give unexpected props to former half-term governor Sarah Palin (aka Caribou Barbie, or Bible Spice.) The one thing she was really good at was getting oil money to help the people of Alaska. And I don’t remember anybody ever blaming oil prices on her.