California: True Battleground for States' Rights

[cal04]

video at link
http://crooksandliars.com/karoli/california-true-battleground-states-rights

Koch Industries just gave the Yes on 23 campaign another million dollars via their front corporation, Flint Hills Resources. When added to Valero Energy Corp. and Tesoro Corp. contributions, a total of $8.2 million has been raised for a "Yes" proposition that really is a "No" proposition in disguise.

Consider this: 100% of the money to fund Proposition 23 comes from outside California. Oil companies inside California -- Chevron and Shell, notably -- have not funded this campaign. What is it about the underlying law -- California AB32 -- that makes corporations with stakes in Kansas and Texas want to spend as much as they can to defeat it? And how is it that libertarians with self-proclaimed strong belief in states' rights like David and Charles Koch are so committed to undoing a law that has no bearing on their state or their rights?

Business, of course. But it goes deeper than that. This really is a proxy war between the moneyed oil interests and an emerging powerhouse of green technology industry. This is why, by the way, the opposition to Proposition 23 is being funded by hedge fund guru Thomas Steyer with his personal funds. As a businessman and investor, he sees what green tech is bringing to California and is putting his personal (not corporate) funds on a future built on it.

(snip)
The Proposition 23 battle isn't simply a battle over environmental regulations. It is a battle for our voice. Californians approved AB32. It is the will of the people in this state and is creating new jobs in a less than friendly economy. AB32 is the difference between China being the innovator in green technology or the United States. Koch/Valero/Tesoro understand this, and they're willing to fight the second civil war on a battleground where casualties are measured in economic pain.

Google & Khosla: If AB32 Dies, So Goes CA's Greentech Market
http://gigaom.com/cleantech/google-khosla-if-ab32-dies-so-goes-cas-greentech-market/

[OffWithTheirHeads]

1. We Californian arn't all stupid. We crushed PG&E's attempt

to bullshit us and we will do the same to this.