Das' statement concerning the oil excise tax, as reported by Planet Santa Barbara, September 30, 2009:

"This legislature balanced the state budget on the backs of school children, the elderly and hard working Californian's while giving big tobacco and big oil a free pass. We are one of the only oil producing states in the nation that does not charge oil companies a severance tax, even Texas does.

"I support an oil severance tax with the funds going to our local school systems and other things hard hit by budget cuts. We need to be looking for solutions to our financial woes that include finding new sources of revenue for the state. However, the sad state of affairs is that it is easier for Sacramento to talk about solutions while voting to slash public education.

"To turn this state around we need a renewed commitment to our communities. We need innovation, new ideas and a renewed focus on getting things done. That is the positive change I will bring to Sacramento."

Labels: oil-excise-tax, oil-severance-tax, state-budget