Update: An action page has been created to show support for Joel - Stand with Joel!
Cal State Los Angeles Senior Joel Francis issued a debate challenge to billionaire CEO Charles Koch of Koch Industries today. Joel's a former student body president, a Marine Corps veteran, and is looking forward to a job in the clean energy economy that Prop 23 would ruin.
Joel said: "The Koch Industries have spent millions of dollars in our state, the CEO ought to have the courage to debate Prop 23 in person. Mr. Koch has donated at least $1 million to the Proposition that would suspend California's clean energy and climate change laws, and I'm standing up, along with thousands of other students to say No, we can not let this happen."
Joel asked for a public debate on Prop 23 and California's economic future, anytime, anywhere in the state before election day. Notably he also promised to show up in Wichita, Kansas if Charles Koch doesn't respond before Tuesday.
Joel's part of Power Vote California, a project of the California Student Sustainability Coalition. Hundreds of students are working across the state to stop Prop 23 and mobilize our generation to vote on November 2. Young leaders are standing up to out-of-state special interests trying to ruin our clean energy future by voting No on Prop 23.
View their press release announcing the debate challenge here.
Follow Whit Jones on Twitter: www.twitter.com/whitjones
The bad news is that AB32 will force utilities to reduce their use of cheap natural gas, and increase their use of much more expensive wind and solar power, with redundent back-up natural gas, for when the wind doesn't blow, or the sun doesn't shine
In future years, public utilities will have to pass on these higher costs to customers. So even if people live in a rent controlled apartment in San Francisco or Los Angeles, their utility bills will be going up sharply. The same is true for every other utility customer in the state, including public school systems that are having severe budget problems already.
To prevent the sharp future increase in utility costs to every Californian, vote Yes on Proposition 23.
This proposition is not about jobs. AB32 is a job creator. CA has the opportunity to lead the world in this technology in the 21st century.
As for your global warming denialism, look at what organizations believe in climate change and those that don't. The fossil fuel industry has spent millions upon millions to trick the public for 2 decades that climate change isnt a problem. Its bullshit - they just want to keep peddling their product to our addicted society. Look up who is funding the think tanks that you are listening to for "scientific information." Look up the funders of Pacific research institute, who wrote a misleading and false study on Prop 23.
As for 5$ gas - don't you realize it will be $5 anyway, SOON. With the developing world using more oil and driving more daily, its only a matter of time before $5 gas is permanent. That has serious implications to our economy - and we need to begin the transition now.
My generation gets it. I hope yours joins us in rebuilding the American economy for the 21st century.
And why should they when they can buy unanswered tv and radio spots !