Clinton to speak on campus
By Peach Indravudh
Oct. 11, 2006 9:00 p.m.
As a public proponent of the environment and energy
conservation, former President Bill Clinton will be speaking on
campus Friday morning to advocate for the passing of Proposition 87
in the Nov. 7 election.
BILL CLINTON Friday, 9 a.m. Statue Garden
The event is sponsored by the “Yes on 87″ campaign
and free student tickets are available on the organization’s
Web site.
If passed, the proposition will establish a $4 billion program
that would reduce petroleum consumption by 25 percent.
The program, which will be administered by the new California
Energy Alternatives Program Authority, will be funded by a tax of
1.5 to 6 percent on producers of oil extracted in the state.
Roy Kim, the deputy press secretary of Yes on 87, said there
will not be a maximum capacity for the number of admitted students
and the event will be publicly held in the UCLA Franklin D. Murphy
Sculpture Garden.
Bruin Democrats President Gabe Rose said the proposition is
important because in light of the nation’s energy crisis,
alternative forms of renewable energy must be obtained.
“There are two problems: an environmental problem and a
national-security dilemma. It’s an energy crisis where we
will become dependant on oil from countries that are our
adversaries,” Rose said.
But opponents say that the $4 billion used to fund the new state
bureaucracy is not necessary to alleviate oil consumption and it
will reduce property tax revenues for education, health care,
public safety and transportation.
Press secretary for Yes on 87 Beth Willon said because Clinton
has been an advocate for the environment, she hopes his influence
will help promote the proposition.
“Clinton has been a long-time leader in environmental
change and he will validate everything that’s being done with
Prop. 87.
“He wants California to lead the nation in breaking our
addiction to oil,” Willon said.
For more information about Prop. 87, click
here.
