Former vice-president Al Gore is urging Proposition 87's passage. The state initiative would raise $4 billion for alternative energy investments from an extraction tax on California oil. "It is time to pass Proposition 87 and move forward," Gore told a noontime crowd of about 1,000 in Berkeley. In a passionate speech, the former vice-president urged California to take the lead to reducing dependency on foreign oil and investing in renewable fuels to help avert global warming impacts. "If it's not now, then when? If it is not us, then who?" he asked. A No on Prop. 87 spokesperson faulted Gore for focusing on global warming and not addressing the specifics of the measure. For Gore, Prop. 87 is a "symbolic measure, but for us it is a very specific law," said Nick DeLuca. He said his coalition opposing the measure agreed with the need to curb carbon dioxide emissions but disagreed with the measure's means. Berkeley mayor Tom Bates noted that there have been legislative efforts over the last three decades to impose an extraction fee on oil companies. California is the only state that does not charge royalties for oil extraction. Legislation introduced by Bates, when he was in the state Legislature, as well as measures by former Senate president pro tem John Burton and Assemblymember Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley), were all killed by the oil companies, Bates said. - Elizabeth McCarthy
