CALPIRG's Next Steps

The influence of corporate money was glaringly apparent this past election season, when the airwaves were barraged with ads against tax increases on the oil companies, cigarettes, and other initiatives.

The oil industry broke national records by spending $100 million to defeat Prop 87, which would have raised $4 billion to fund clean energy alternatives. The tobacco industry, knowing that Prop 86 would reduce California’s cigarette sales by 312 million packs per year, spent $65 million to defeat Prop 86’s tobacco tax increase.

The good news is that despite short term losses with the ballot initiatives, we are well positioned to advance health care and energy policy solutions in the new legislature. An increased awareness of the harm caused by our oil addiction and the engagement of new partners will buoy our efforts to push for legislation that curbs our oil dependence. CALPIRG continues to meet with the governor’s staff and legislators to influence new policies to increase access to and the affordability of health care, a high priority issue for the governor and legislators alike this year.