Clinton to speak on campus

As a public proponent of the environment and energy conservation, former President Bill Clinton will be speaking on campus Friday morning to advocate for the passing of Proposition 87 in the Nov. 7 election.

BILL CLINTON Friday, 9 a.m. Statue Garden

The event is sponsored by the “Yes on 87” campaign and free student tickets are available on the organization’s Web site.

If passed, the proposition will establish a $4 billion program that would reduce petroleum consumption by 25 percent.

The program, which will be administered by the new California Energy Alternatives Program Authority, will be funded by a tax of 1.5 to 6 percent on producers of oil extracted in the state.

Roy Kim, the deputy press secretary of Yes on 87, said there will not be a maximum capacity for the number of admitted students and the event will be publicly held in the UCLA Franklin D. Murphy Sculpture Garden.

Bruin Democrats President Gabe Rose said the proposition is important because in light of the nation’s energy crisis, alternative forms of renewable energy must be obtained.

“There are two problems: an environmental problem and a national-security dilemma. It’s an energy crisis where we will become dependant on oil from countries that are our adversaries,” Rose said.

But opponents say that the $4 billion used to fund the new state bureaucracy is not necessary to alleviate oil consumption and it will reduce property tax revenues for education, health care, public safety and transportation.

Press secretary for Yes on 87 Beth Willon said because Clinton has been an advocate for the environment, she hopes his influence will help promote the proposition.

“Clinton has been a long-time leader in environmental change and he will validate everything that’s being done with Prop. 87.

“He wants California to lead the nation in breaking our addiction to oil,” Willon said.

For more information about Prop. 87, click here.