$4 billion oil production tax fuels debate on Proposition 87 (CA)

[jpak]

http://www.capitalpress.info/main.asp?SectionID=67&SubSectionID=616&ArticleID=27684&TM=62267.96

An initiative on the November ballot to impose a $4 billion tax on oil production has heated up television sets in recent weeks with opposing political commercials.

Proposition 87's campaign promotions state, "Make big oil pay for cleaner energy," but the measure is drawing fire from business and farm groups.

Al Lundeen, a spokesman for Californians Against Higher Taxes, the No on Prop 87 campaign, speaking during a campaign stop in Humboldt County said the initiative would sock consumers.

"Proposition 87 means higher prices for consumers at the gas pump, it means we will be more reliant on foreign oil and this initiative creates a huge new and truly unnecessary bureaucracy," Lundeen said.

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