The Media Freedom Foundation » Texas

California is the Only Major Oil Producing State without an Extraction Tax

admin — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:39:11 +0000

National budget crisis has put public education into scarcity for the future of those who wish to obtain a higher level of education. With dramatic increases in tuition and fees students are rallying and protesting in desperation to be heard with hopes to experience change in how we are handling the states budget deficit. CSU’s administrators have proposed to address the budget shortfall through layoffs, furloughs, tuition increases, course and enrollment reductions as being the primary solution while very little pressure has been placed on Governor and the states legislature to make higher education a priority.

One possible solution before the legislator is AB 656. The bill is sponsored by proposes to levy an extraction tax on natural gas and oil companies who profit from our state’s natural resources. California being the only major oil-producing state that does not levy an extraction tax – that is said can be a reliable source for higher education. In contrast, Texas public universities receive more than $400 million a year in revenue from mineral and oil rights.

Tuition has seen a dramatic increase of 32% and is for-seen to increase another 10% within the next year. CSU system-wide is calling for a reduction of enrollment by 40,000 students over the next two years.

Title: California’s Crisis of Higher Education

Source: Indymedia.org, 10/24/2009

URL:http://indybay.org/newsitems/2009/10/24/18626618.php

Author: Diane M. Blair

Student Researcher: Gina R. Sarpy

Faculty Evaluator: Glenn Carter

Sonoma State University: Sociology of Media, Fall 2009Similar Posts:

Private Prison Riots for Human Rights

admin — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 04:48:53 +0000

Non-violent immigrant prisoners at Reeves Detention Center in Texas took resistive action on two separate occasions this year. Inmates tired of the inhuman treatment and being denied due process, broke cell windows, ripped sinks off the walls, and took two-prison guards hostage. Inmates were upset with every aspect of the prison including the lack of medical attention, inedible food, legal resources, the use of solitary confinement to punish people who complained about their medical treatment, and overcrowdings. Reeves Detention center is a privately run prison outside of Pacos Texas housing some 1,200 inmates.

The final straw was the death of a 32-year old inmate named Galindo, who suffered from seizures and asked for medication and medical treatment on several occasions. He later died due to complications and lack of treatment. Galindo wrote home explaining to his family that he would die there because he was not receiving the attention for his medical condition. The cause of the death was ruled as an epileptiform seizure disorder. The death of Galindo outraged the inmates who then started the revolt. After it was all over one million dollars worth of damage was done to the detention center.

Title: The Pecos Insurrection: How A Private Prison Pushed Immigrant Inmates To The Brink.

Source: The Texas Observer, October 2, 2009

URL: http://www.texasobserver.org/features/the-pecos-insurrection

Author: Forrest Wilder

Student Researcher: Jameka Rothschild-Ballard

Faculty Evaluator: Tyron Woods Ph.D.

Sonoma State University: Sociology of Media, Fall 2009

Instructor: Peter Phillips, #22Similar Posts: