California’s Three Major Taxpayer Organizations Join Environmental Groups in Urging No Vote on Prop 10

Unusual alliance of California Taxpayers Association, Howard Jarvis and California Tax Reform Associations Oppose Prop 10

By Frank D. Russo

The California Taxpayers Association (Cal-Tax) this week joined the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association and California Tax Reform Association in opposing Proposition 10--an initiative measure placed on the November ballot by Texas billionaire T. Boone Pickens--that calls for $5 billion in bonds to subsidize natural gas powered vehicles along with modest investments in renewable energy development.

The No on 10 Campaign now has among its ranks not only all three major state taxpayer rights organizations who often are at odds with each other, but a burgeoning list of environmental, consumer, government reform groups groups including the League of Women Voters of California, California League of Conservation Voters (CLCV), Sierra Club, Consumer Federation of California, Consumer Watchdog, The Utilities Reform Network (TURN), and other groups.

On the Cal-Tax website that organization argues, “The measure (Prop 10) adds to the state’s fiscal problems, lines the pockets of the plan’s billionaire sponsor, and provides taxpayers nothing of lasting value – just a promise of clean air, with no requirements to make sure the promise is fulfilled.”

Additional reasons for taxpayer rights organizations to oppose Prop 10 include:

T. Boone Pickens’ Clean Energy Fuel Corporation spent over $3 million to put Prop 10 on the ballot. If approved, taxpayers would be stuck paying off $10 billion in bonds over the next 30 years. The bulk of this money would be used for taxpayer handouts to purchasers of natural gas powered trucks and other vehicles. Clean Energy Fuel Corp. is a major supplier of natural gas for vehicles and stands to make a fortune if the initiative passes.

43% of California’s natural gas consumption is for electric power generation. The rest heats homes and businesses. Less than 1% powers vehicles. Use of natural gas for electric generation is up 66% since 1996. Natural gas prices have moved steadily higher since 2000. Prop 10 will increase the demand for natural gas and our utility bills will skyrocket.

Comments

Posted by: Agit8r at October 6, 2008 11:16 PM

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