Filmmaker a big donor behind the scenes Stephen Bing spends $49.6 million backing oil tax proposition

The San Francisco Chronicle reports:

As Al Gore gave an impassioned speech about global warming at a sun-bathed downtown Berkeley park recently, Stephen Bing stood a few hundred feet behind the former vice president, away from the stage and the crowds, under the shadow of large pine trees.

In fact, hardly anyone even noticed the salt-and-pepper-haired Bing, a Hollywood producer who has become the main force behind Proposition 87, a statewide initiative that seeks to raise $4 billion in oil production tax to help develop alternative fuels.

Bing, 41, so far has dropped $49.6 million of his personal funds to help fend off an immense media campaign led by big oil companies to defeat the measure. The opposition has raised $90 million, and Yes on 87 has raised $57 million, but no other single individual or company on either side has contributed more than Bing. Chevron Corp. comes in second at $34 million.

Steve Bing likes to spend money to make you give up more money.Thanks Steve.