Earlier this year, California passed a $52 billion transportation plan what raised gas tax rates across the state. Over the next 10 years, the plan will raise the gas excise tax by 12 cents which, in turn, is estimated to increase fuel taxes and fees for California motorists by about $10 per month. But while the tax hike is qualified to go on November’s ballot, opposition to the increase continues to strengthen with support from organizations like NFIB.
“California small businesses and working families are being crushed in this state with rising costs in every aspect of running their business, which is why NFIB was the leading statewide business association opposed to Senate Bill 1 last year, and why we fully support Proposition 6 to repeal these regressive gas and car tax increases on hardworking Californians,” NFIB’s California State Director John Kabateck said at a public rally.
Earlier this week, gas tax repeal supporters launched a new campaign in opposition of California’s bullet train project. According to the Los Angeles Times, “supporters of the new initiative … say it addresses a criticism of Proposition 6 by Gov. Jerry Brown and others who warn that elimination of the higher gas tax and vehicle fees approved last year will leave the state billions of dollars short of what is needed to repair its deteriorating transportation network.”
“By filing this ballot measure before the November election, we begin our third and final phase of fixing California’s roads without raising taxes on struggling working families of our state – and we’re proving how it can be done before voters are asked to vote YES on Prop 6 the Gas Tax Repeal Initiative,” Carl DeMaio, chairman of Yes on Prop 6 Gas Tax Repeal Campaign, said in a statement issued Sept. 25.
Under Section 3 campaign’s proposed replacement initiative to fund roads and state infrastructure, the new initiative urges the governor to “terminate all activity on the High Speed Rail project and use any unspent funds on other transportation needs.”
Additional amendments to the statewide ballot measure to amend the state’s constitution include local control of funds, efficiency reforms and audits, a dedicated sales tax on cars to infrastructure, and a citizens’ road repair gas tax lockbox.
