AB 656 gaining grounds in colleges, universities
San Jose, CA (March 21) -- From San Jose and San Francisco colleges and universities, Majority Leader Alberto Torrico took his campaign trail for higher education funding to Contra Costa Colleges through his Assembly Bill (AB) 656.
AB 656, otherwise known as the oil severance tax bill was introduced by Torrico in Congress, to generate about $2 billion oil tax money earmarked for California's public higher education system.
He joined the students in a rally at the Contra Costa College's Amphitheater to amplify their issues on budget education cuts.
According to Torrico, California is the only major oil-producing state that does not charge the tax on oil companies.
"At a time when our state is spending more money on prisons than we do on all three higher education systems combined, California must boost its funding to keep the doors to our colleges and universities open to students," Majority Leader Torrico said.
He added that, "Studies show there will be an even large wave of students seeking a higher education in the near future, but we currently don't have sufficient funds to handle the enrollment growth, let alone the students we have now. We have to stop the record student fee hikes, staff furloughs, admission caps and canceled courses or fewer students will be able to make their