California Proposition 10 (2008)

California Proposition 10, also known as the California Alternative Fuels Initiative, was an unsuccessful initiated state statute that appeared on the November 2008 ballot in California. Proposition 10 was funded by Clean Energy Fuels Corp. a corporation owned by T. Boone Pickens. Clean Energy Fuels Corp. is the nation's leading operator of natural gas vehicle fueling stations.

Proposition 10 was one of two ballot initiatives focusing on alternative fuels that appeared on the November 4, 2008 ballot in California. Both propositions were rejected by voters that day.

Proponents believe the proposal would have:

Provisions of the initiative

The initiative authorizes $5 billion in bonds paid from state’s General Fund, allocated approximately as follows:

Estimate of fiscal impact

According to the government's fiscal analysis office, the initiative would entail:

Supporters

Funding and Boone Pickens

Reports filed through December 31, 2008 listed four major donors to the initiative:

On August 11, it was disclosed that U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is an investor in CEFC.,[5][6]

Todd Campbell, Clean Energy's public policy director, in response to criticisms about CLNE sponsoring Prop. 10 because of potential benefits to the company told an 'Associated Press reporter, "I don’t think it’s a given that Clean Energy is going to cash in. I wish it were that simple."[7]

Arguments in favor of Prop. 10

The main arguments offered in favor of Prop. 10 are:

Path to the ballot

Prop. 10 was qualified for the ballot through a petition drive conducted by Progressive Campaigns, Inc., at a cost of $2,418,178 and Forde and Mollrich, which was paid $660,084 for signatures. The total signature cost was $3,078,263.[9]

Opponents

Opposed by

Arguments against Prop. 10

Newspaper endorsements

Opposed to Prop. 10

The Los Angeles Times editorialized against Prop. 10 on September 19, saying, "Spending bond money on something as intangible as privately owned vehicles is a terrible idea"[14] The Santa Monica Mirror said, "Self-serving Prop. 10 sounds good, should lose".[15]

The San Francisco Chronicle is opposed, writing, "The chief backer and bill payer for the measure is T. Boone Pickens, the folksy Texas oilman and apostle for energy independence who founded a firm that just happens to supply natural gas for cars and trucks".[16]

Results

Electoral votes by county.
Proposition 10[17]
Choice Votes %
Referendum failed No 7,464,154 59.41
Yes 5,098,666 40.59
Valid votes 12,562,820 91.41
Invalid or blank votes 1,180,357 8.59
Total votes 13,743,177 100.00

References

  1. List of $5,000 + donors to Proposition 10
  2. Pelosi #dontgo Bombshell: Money, August 11, 2008
  3. Nancy Pelosi's financial disclosure statement for 2007
  4. New York Times Green Inc. blog, "The Pickens Plan and Proposition 10", September 25, 2008
  5. California voter guide, arguments for and against Prop. 10
  6. Expenditure detail
  7. Campaign filing for No on Proposition 10; Californians against the $10 Billion Lemon
  8. Los Angeles Times, "Reject Proposition 10", September 19, 2008
  9. Santa Monica Mirror, Self-Serving Prop. 10 Sounds Good, Should Lose", September 18, 2008
  10. San Francisco Chronicle, "Why Proposition 10 is a boondoggle", September 25, 2008
  11. "Statement of Vote: 2008 General Election" (PDF). California Secretary of State. 2008-12-13.

Additional reading

External links

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