CA Gas Inventory Chart 2006 vs. 2005
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Energy
Energy and utility watchdog coverage — gas prices, oil-industry profits, utility rates, and clean-energy accountability.
Letter from Tim Hamilton RE: Gas Price Fixing in Election Years
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Clinton endorses Calif. oil tax vote (Prop 87)
<p class="source">UPI - United Press International</p>
<p>Prop. 87 is also endorsed by former Clinton Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, Sen. Diane Feinstein, D-Calif., as well as many state and local politicians. Groups such as the state American Lung Association, Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and Americans for Energy Independence, among others, have also signed onto the proposal.</p>
Gas Man Pumps Cash Into Arnold’s Spare Tank
<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">Less than a month after
announcing a $287 million stock offering to raise cash to build a
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) plant in the Western United States, a
company owned by Texas energy mogul T....</font>
Pricey campaigns & political rap
<p class="source">Contra Costa Times (California)</p>
<p>PROPOSITION 89 HAS ITS OWN SONG: TV adds, radio spots, newspapers ads, campaign Web sites, forums, protests... When it comes to getting their message out, the folks behind YesOn89 -- the so-called Clean Money proposition -- are thinking outside the box.</p>
I’ll Be Back- To Collect More Special Interest $ Than Any California Politician Ever
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<font face="verdana,sans-serif" size="2">The special interest cash keeps rolling in to Arnold's campaign committees... He has now taken ...</font>
Chart – CA Gas Pump Price vs. Crude Oil Price
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Gasoline prices fall 13 cents this week
<p class="source">The San Diego Union-Tribune (California)</p>
<p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights in Santa Monica believes that manipulation of state gasoline supply did play a role in rising prices here. Judy Dugan, research director for the foundation, said inventory and production data from the California Energy Commission showed increases in gasoline for export at critical points during the summer run-up, which she said was evidence of market manipulation.</p>
California voters signal interest in plan to tax oil to boost renewables
<p class="source">Electric Utility Week</p>
<p>According to an early August Field Poll, 52% of voters sampled said they would vote for the proposition after being read its official ballot summary. Despite the well-funded "No on 87" campaign, Doug Heller, executive director of the Foundation for Consumer & Taxpayer Rights, said he thinks Proposition 87 will prevail. "Voters' anger will help the initiative overcome the up to $40 million that the oil companies will raise to try to defeat it," said Heller.</p>
Oil Lobby Accused of Killing California Anti-Gouging Law
<p class="source">The NewStandard</p>
<p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights had backed the Attorney General in shepherding the bill through the Assembly, and the apparent about-face shocked the state-based watchdog group. Research Director Judy Dugan speculated that the bill's death was likely the result of intense pressure from the oil-industry lobby, which has successfully rallied state lawmakers to block nearly a dozen other proposals to regulate oil companies in this legislative session.</p>
STUDY: US DRIVERS ARE CASH COW FOR BIG OIL
<p class="source">FinancialWire</p>
<p>The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights said once taxes are deducted, U.S. gas prices in July were 24 cents a gallon higher than in Europe. While Europeans pay more than $5 a gallon, most of the pump price reflects government taxes.</p>
U.S. drivers subsidize European pump prices – report
<p class="source">Reuters Newswires</p>
<p>The report from the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights also showed that profit margins were much larger for multinational oil companies' refinery operations in the United States than those located in Europe.</p>