Citizens to McCain:
No More Cash for Big Oil Companies –
Invest Money in Clean Energy Here
MoveOn.org Members Deliver Report on McCain’s Oil Company Handouts and What California’s $5.3 Billion Could Do For Energy Independence
On Tuesday, MoveOn.org members in Irvine will deliver a new report (attached) to public transportation commuters at a rally at the Santa Ana Train Station, showing just how much money John McCain is proposing to give to oil companies in tax breaks and subsidies. California’s portion of that money would come to $5.3 billion that instead could go toward clean and affordable energy and the jobs that go with it here at home.
This event is one of the 130 Rallies for Clean Energy held around the country to draw attention to John McCain’s plans for an additional $39 billion in oil company tax loopholes and subsidies, which would come as oil companies have been reporting record high profits. The report details the cost of spending that money on corporate handouts instead of the opportunity of building a clean energy future for California. The report was produced by the Center for American Progress.
What: Rally and report delivery on how much John McCain’s oil company handouts will cost California’s energy future
Who: Local members of MoveOn.org
Where: Santa Ana train station, 1000 E. Santa Ana Blvd.
(Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center), Santa Ana, CA 92701
When: Tuesday, August 19, 2008, 4:30 p.m.
** Excellent visuals: Californians at Santa Ana train station with “SLOGAN FOR SIGNS” signs, fliers **
“We find it appalling that John McCain is proposing to give $39 billion in tax payer dollars to oil companies when they are already raking in $150 billion in profits,” said Kate Nikolenko, a MoveOn.org member from Irvine. “This Big Oil Energy Plan shows just whose side John McCain is on. With $5.3 billion in California, we could make real progress toward ending our dependence on oil and creating new energy jobs.”
These Rallies for Clean Energy are part of a larger MoveOn.org campaign aimed at John McCain for putting Big Oil profits over the interests of most Americans in his energy policy.
The report comes in the midst of McCain’s continued push for offshore drilling, which numerous experts have found won’t do anything to help lower gas prices(1) but will increase oil company profits. In recent weeks, MoveOn has held events highlighting McCain’s decision to switch a position he has held on drilling for at least 8 years(2) just as energy industry executives held a series of fundraisers for him in Texas netting him over $800,000 for his campaign(3). In addition, almost 30 of Senator McCain’s campaign advisors and fundraisers have been identified as having lobbied for oil and gas interests.
MoveOn.org Political Action is a political action committee powered by 3.2 million progressive Americans. We believe in the power of small donors and grassroots action to elect progressive leaders to office and to advance a progressive agenda. We do not accept any donations over $5,000, and the average donation to MoveOn.org Political Action is under $100.
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(1) “Slick John McCain and the offshore oil ruse,” Salon.com, June 19, 2008; http://www.salon.com/tech/feat…
(2) “Put Your Right Wing In, Take Your Left Wing Out,” Washington Post, June 17, 2003; http://www.washingtonpost.com/…
(3) “Industry Gushed Money After Reversal on Drilling,” Washington Post, July 27, 2008; http://www.washingtonpost.com/…
(4) “Oil Money: John McCain’s Close Ties to the Petroleum Industry,” Campaign Money Watch, Public Campaign Action Fund, July 11, 2008; http://www.campaignmoney.org/m…