Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico is making a valiant effort to save up to 5,000 jobs that may be lost if Toyota closes down its New United Motor Manufacturing Inc., (NUMMI for short) based in Fremont.
That’s on one hand. But on the other hand, Torrico is jeopardizing thousands of jobs in the oil industry by pushing a measure to create a 9.9% oil severance tax and funnel the money to California’s public colleges and universities.
In an effort to keep the Toyota jobs in Fremont, the bill co-authored by Torrico would exempt auto plants from sales tax on improvements and refurbishing the manufacturing plant. But, his oil severance tax bill is sure to discourage drilling in the state and lead to a depressing ripple effect in jobs related to the oil industry either directly or indirectly to those servicing the industry and its workers.. Never mind the problems for consumers of increased gasoline costs and importing more foreign oil.
And, did I mention the hit on government? Torrico did. Rightly so. In his concern for the closing of the Toyota plant, he worried aloud about the loss of income, sales and property taxes in Fremont.
Wouldn’t there be a loss of income, sales, and property taxes in, say, in Bakersfield in Kern County, if the oil severance tax were levied?
We should be saving ALL California jobs during these difficult economic days.
California policy makers must support the workers who build the cars, but also the workers who help fuel the cars, as well.