Jordan Blasts Governor for Supporting New Offshore Oil Drilling and Holding State Parks Hostage

Oil Severance Tax Could Help Restore Proposed Cuts to Critical Public Services

“The hypocrisy of this governor cannot be overstated. After both the State Lands Commission and the legislature said no to opening our coast to the first new oil drilling in 40 years, with a risky, secretly negotiated deal with Texas-based Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP), the governor now threatens to eliminate all funding for our treasured state parks if he doesn’t get his way,” said Susan Jordan, Founder and Director of the California Coastal Protection Network and candidate for State Assembly, 35th District.

“The governor would rather cut essential services to the elderly, the disabled and the indigent than require that oil companies who profit from the exploitation of our state resources pay their fair share. If the governor really wants revenue, he should stand up to the oil companies who have donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to him, and call for an oil severance tax on existing production that could bring $1.5 billion dollars to the state general fund right now,” Jordan said.

The proposed budget calls for reductions to CalWORKS, In-Home Support Services to the elderly and disabled, the Healthy Families program and other services if federal money doesn’t materialize.

The PXP oil drilling plan, which would allow the first new offshore oil lease in 40 years in state waters, was denied a year ago through proper environmental review by the State Lands Commission (SLC).  The SLC legal counsel and the State Attorney General concluded that the benefits PXP offered were unenforceable. The Los Angeles Times appropriately described PXP’s promises as “written in the sand at low tide.”

Unhappy with the State Lands denial, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger then tried to push through the approval of the PXP oil drilling project in the budget process, but was rebuffed by the State Legislature under the leadership of State Senator Fran Pavley and Assemblymember Pedro Nava and the opposition of over 100 environmental groups from around California.

“The Texas PXP deal is a Trojan horse that sets a precedent for new offshore oil drilling along the California coast. You need look no further than the governor’s favored Parsky Commission’s recommendation to open the entire California coast to new drilling and Assemblymember Chuck DeVore’s (R-Irvine) recently announced legislation that would open up all state waters to oil drilling and eliminate the long-standing jurisdiction of the State Lands Commission to review, approve or deny any new leasing in state waters,” Jordan said.

The governor, whose “California Dream Team” campaign committee has taken large donations from oil companies, has consistently targeted state parks for severe budget cuts and inappropriate infrastructure. In 2008, Schwarzenegger campaigned to put a massive toll road through the heart of one of the most beloved California state parks at San Onofre State Beach.

Jordan is a candidate for the 35th District Assembly seat and the founder and director of the California Coastal Protection Network, one of the leading coastal protection advocacy organizations in California.