SACRAMENTO, Calif., July 10, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- "We are appalled with this desperate attempt by the petroleum industry and their allies in Sacramento to undo years of public participation and voter review that affirms the mandate of AB 32. We are now on the threshold of holding oil companies responsible for the impact of their products on the health of all Californians especially working families. The fact that the oil industry is pretending to care about low-income families is to be expected—the fact that Mr. Perea and the co-authors of his bill are parroting their message is offensive.
"Eight in 10 Californians support requiring oil companies to make cleaner fuels. Yet, rather than taking responsibility to curb pollution that is literally choking kids and their parents—including thousands in Mr. Perea's San Joaquin Valley district, the oil industry has created an opportunity via AB 69 to pass the buck to consumers and get a special industry exemption from AB 32's pollution reduction requirements.
"It's not surprising that oil companies would take such a hardline stance to protect their profits against the expressed will of the voters. But it is disappointing Mr. Perea and the co-authors of his bill would be complicit in an effort that would have some of its worst economic and health impacts on their own constituents. We know that Governor Brown and the majority of the Legislature will uphold the will of the majority of Californians that elected them.
"Nobody apart from the oil companies themselves knows what the price of gasoline will be tomorrow, much less in January. But we do know that AB 32 is already helping working families. And we know the costs of doing nothing, including higher rates of asthma, heart attacks, and autism.
"Exempting the oil industry would be a giant step backward that would harm consumers, public health, our economy and working families."
Miya Yoshitani
Executive Director
Asian Pacific Environmental Network
Contact: Parin Shah 415.286.7850
Katelyn Roedner Sutter
Environmental Justice Program Director
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Stockton
Contact: 207.286.5041
Martha Dina Arguello
Executive Director
Physicians for Social Responsibility-LA
Contact: 310.261.0073