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Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Oil tax supporters, detractors clash on campus - News


Oil tax supporters, detractors clash on campus - News:

"A group of conservative students protested a rally Monday that was designed to drum up support for an oil tax to fund higher education.

The students silently held up signs in front of Assembly Majority Leader Alberto Torrico as he was speaking to about 400 people at the Cesar Chavez Memorial Arch.

The rally was in support for Assembly Bill 656, which would charge oil companies a 9.9 percent severance tax to help fund higher public education in California, according to the text of the bill.

About seven students, many of whom said they were with the College Republicans at SJSU, stormed the podium when Torrico took the stage and held up signs that read 'Don't think you won't pay this tax' and 'Tax cost 9,000 jobs.'

Others with signs supporting the bill quickly rushed the stage to counter the protesters."