Tag Archives: Californians

Why should you take a moment to support CMED?

by Kevin Singer, Communications Coordinator, Californians for Responsible Economic Development

In 2011 alone, California produced a grand total of approximately 200 million barrels of oil and 230 billion cubic feet of natural gas, making our state the fourth largest producer of oil and the tenth largest producer of natural gas in the country. Yet, despite this, California does not get a dime for the resources that are extracted from our state and sold on the global market. This is because, unlike every other major oil and natural gas producing state in the nation, California has not enacted an extraction fee on the energy that is taken right from under our feet.

Let’s think about this for a moment. California, the ninth largest economy in the world, is ranked 43rd in the country in terms of K-12 spending per pupil. The University of California, the flagship public university system of the nation, has seen a 14% decrease in funding since 2010. And at a time when a quality college education has never been more important, tuition is skyrocketing, making a diploma unaffordable for an increasing number of young Californians. Meanwhile, at 9.8% unemployment, even those who have graduated from college find themselves without work or working at jobs they are tremendously over-qualified for. The appalling disrepair of our municipal infrastructure only discourages employers from bringing more jobs to our state. But our state government has its hands tied behind its back. The $250 billion dollar state debt all but assures that there will be no additional funding for education and infrastructure in the near future.

And we are giving away our oil and natural gas. We have the wealth to fund the investments that California needs and deserves and we are giving it away. This is to say nothing of that fact that by not charging an extraction fee on oil and natural gas, our state, which prides itself as a leader of reducing CO2 emissions, is not putting a price on the CO2 that eventually makes its way into the atmosphere. To say this is ridiculous would be an understatement. It is an outrage.

The California Modernization and Economic Development Act (or CMED) would put an end to it. By implementing a modest 9.5% extraction fee on oil and natural gas (Alaska, hardly an enemy of big oil, has implemented a fee of 24% on oil and natural gas that’s extracted from the state), CMED would raise between 2 and 2.5 billion dollars in revenue for California. A little more than half, 1.2 billion dollars, would be allocated in four equal parts for K-12, California Community Colleges, Cal State Universities, and the University of California for the purposes of increasing quality and restoring tuition to 2010 levels. 400 million dollars will be used to support small businesses by aiding their transition to cheaper, carbon-free and carbon-reduced forms of energy, which would in turn empower them to expand, hire additional workers, and reinvest. An additional 300 million dollars would be apportioned to the general funds of California County Governments for the purpose of upgrading and better maintaining municipal infrastructure, funding the conservation of regional park land and providing a multitude of other public services.

These are more than investments, they constitute a complete vision for responsible economic development in California. Making that vision a reality is as easy as ending the giveaway of our oil and natural gas, but it’ll take a popular movement if we truly want to realign the policies in Sacramento with the wishes and desires of Californians. Simply by taking a few moments, right now, and visiting www.cmedact.org, liking our Facebook, following us on Twitter, telling your friends or donating anything you can, even $5, you can provide the crucial grassroots support we need. It’s that easy. You could be the difference between failing to qualify and qualifying CMED on the 2014 ballot, so that Californians can have a chance to pass it democratically.

We can do this California, but not without your support. If you think it’s ridiculous that we are giving away our oil and natural gas at a time when California is more cash-strapped than ever, join our cause. It won’t be easy, but together we will qualify and pass the California Modernization and Economic Development Act and put our state back on the right track.

Live Blogging the APAPA Voters Education and Candidate Conference

[I hunt and peck, so don’t expect too much articulation ๐Ÿ˜‰ ]

We’re a few mins away from it starting.

Lot of people walking in. At least eleven buses from around California all the way from Redding to L.A., from Fresno to San Jose.

All the state politicians have been invited from Arnold to John Garamendi to your local legislator

Here’s APAPA’s website


I’m going to make mistakes, so bear with me

More below …

It’s starting …

Amy Tong, Vice Chair 2007 Forum Chair introducing sponsoring organizations

C.C. Yin, Founder and Chair introducing APAPA board members. CC Yin explains why it’s important to get involved … to vote … to take ownership of goverment

Pamela Wu, Master of Ceremonies from KCRA Channel Three thanking corporate sponsors

Corporate sponsors giving short speeches and receiving ceremonial chinese swords and leis

Pamela Wu introducing candidates I won’t get everyone so don’t  hold it against me … Jimmy Yee, Bill Durston, Charlie Brown, Allen Nakanishi …

Pamela Wu reading a letter from President Bush

Opening remarks by Secretary of State Debra Bowen … giving thanks to the first female SoS Marge Fong Eu … You are on the front lines of democracy … looking forward to working with you …

Remarks by Allen Nakanishi … We live in a great state and great nation …

Chuck (something?) former mayor of Fairield … vote … make sure you vote

Next speaker was supposed to be Lt. Governor John Garamendi but he can’t make it because of the fires in SoCal

Judy Chu State Board of Equalization Vice Chair praising APAPA and those who get involved

Alberto Torrico, API joint legislative caucus co-chair … thanks for getting involved

Jack O’Connell State Superintendent of Schools … the future of California is bright … the children are the future … schools need to prepare us to be lifelong learners … the best is yet to come for California

Steve Westly … giving a special welcome to the Hmong as his father grew up in Vietnam … and all the Asian Americans … California is a business leader in the world … education is important … invest in teachers and local control … invest in colleges …

Recorded message from Congressman Jerry McNerney … thanking his colleagues and constituents … adressing transportation and power needs … renewable energy … military has sacrificed …

Conservative columnist Raoul Lowery Contreras … proud to be with all Asian groups as a former US Marine … we are in a war which we have been in since the 80’s … people want to kill us … we’re not fighting for oil … but we need to be there for the oil … we are the policemen of the world … is it worth our being in Iraq? Purple fingers

Congressional candidate forum

Charlie Brown Democratic candidate for the 4th district opening statement … tough probs to solve … need change in DC to solve them


Mike Holmes Republican candidate for 4th district …

Bill Durston candidate for the 3rd CD, opening statement … former US Marine … served in combat … emergency physician … thanks APAPA

Healthcare question

Mike Holmes … don’t need socialist medicine

Charlie talks too fast ๐Ÿ™‚ … We need healthcare now

Durston good points … access to healthcare for all … as a US Congressman will work for timely affordable Healthcare

Iraq

Mike Holmes … info cherry picked … support our troops … exit strategy …

Durston … people dieing in Iraq is too much … no military solution

Brown … served in VN … saw what poor pullout did to VN … has seen failure … Future funding needs firm timelines

Immigration

Brown … country of immigrants … not a closed society

Durston … long standing complex issue … reject politics of fear … have had many bad immigration laws …

Holmes … need to strengthen borders … need new bracero program

Thirty second q and a

Iran

Holmes … talk diplomatically to Iranians

Brown … need more diplomacy … getting allies back behind us

Closing candidate statements

Recorded message from Congresswoman Doris Matsui from the 5th CD … thanking APAPA … last year Americans demanded change … haven’t done enough … Bush’s veto of SCHIP is wrong … need civil liberties … responsible exit from Iraq … need fiscal control

Keynote speaker Congressman Eni Faleomavaega … greeting in several Asian languages … appreciation to CC Yin … get involved … you can make a difference if you’re involved

Time for the good stuff! 1st thousand dolaar give away ๐Ÿ˜‰ …. (drumroll) missed the name of the winner

Healthcare forum with Reps from the Governor’s office and the Legisalture

Representative from Sheila Kuells office … we are not receiving healthcare we deserve … singlepayer healthcare … every resident needs comprehensive healthcare

Governors rep … system is broken … people subject to debts, bankruptcy … encourage people …  prevention … wellness

Legislature rep … polls say number two issue is healthcare … President vetoed SCHIP … President wants billions for Iraq … extend coverage to people without insurance … everyone pitches in

Legislative candidate forum

Lois Wolk … solutions for probs. … protecting native areas … worked and supported API

Greg Agazarian (sp?) … from an immigrant family … California dream … California better place

Jim Neilson (sp?) … opportunity

Jim Cook … 30 years serving the country … here to serve you …

Alyson Huber … came from nothing … not a politician … living the American dream … need affordable edu., healthcare


[Taking a break from transcribing]

I’m looking out at the audience and I think every seat is filled, which really is great because you have to get involved to make change no matter what change you want. Kids all over the place.

OK, Cindy Sheehan is up now … talking about the value of human life … zero soldiers should have been killed … over a million Iraqi’s are dead … we’re all immigrants … immigrants have only made our country better … her son’s life was expensive … mothers are fierce when their children are in harms way … we can’t allow our leaders to kill our children … most homeless are Veterans … Iraq is making homeless vets … 30 k people a day die from starvation … we all deserve human rights … right to self determination … government is taking away our freedoms … fight for our voting rights … make sure our leaders keep their promises … make them accountable … we all have a part

2nd thousand dollar prize giveaway … (drumroll) the name is, Yang Lee Her (sp?)

That’s the end.

(Sorry for any spelling mistakes)

Great program APAPA!