California Federation of Teachers Backs Prop 87
The 100,000-member California Federation of Teachers announced its endorsement of Proposition 87 today because it will increase revenues for education and provide funding for new school buses.
"Proposition 87 will bring cheaper fuels to California and California's communities," said Mary Bergan, President of the California Federation of Teachers. "Prop 87 will also help school districts replace dirty, expensive diesel school buses. Our kids shouldn't be going to and from school in some of the worst polluters on the road." Asthma is the leading cause of child hospitalization and school absences due to a chronic condition.
Proposition 87 will provide up to $600 million for the replacement of diesel school buses, in addition to more than a billion dollars in grants to universities, a $100 million workforce training program through California's community colleges, and up to $50 million to help K-12 school districts install alternative fuel pumps.
Proposition 87 will reduce our dependence on oil with cleaner, cheaper, and domestic fuels. The effort will be funded by oil drilling fees paid by oil companies. In Alaska, Louisiana, and even Texas, oil companies pay billions in oil drilling fees. In California, they pay almost nothing. Proposition 87 makes oil companies pay their fair share so we can use cheaper, cleaner energy and reduce pollution that causes asthma, lung disease, and cancer.
The California Federation of Teachers joins a growing coalition including Senator Dianne Feinstein, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell, the American Lung Association of California, The Coalition for Clean Air, The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, businesses, Nobel Laureates and environmental, local government, and public health organizations who support Prop 87.
posted by Phillip | Friday, September 15 | Link to this post
