Gas tax repeal will be on California ballot in November

The initiative to repeal the controversial gas tax in California will be on the ballot in November, with the secretary of state confirming Monday that organizers received enough signatures to qualify.

Senate Bill 1, passed last year, raised the base excise tax on gasoline by 12 cents per gallon. This initiative would require a majority of voters to approve any increases on the taxes on gas – and it would apply retroactively. 

“This is a message to the millions of forgotten Californians ignored by the Sacramento political elite, help is on the way,” Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox said in a written statement. “Let this also be a message to every special interest in Sacramento, we’re coming for you. You can outspend the people, but you can’t outvote the people, because there are more of us than there are of you.”

Cox worked with other Republican leaders in organizing and providing funds for the repeal effort.

Democrats in the state argue that the higher tax on fuel is needed to fund repairs to crumbling infrastructure in the state, while conservative opponents note that Californians are already highly taxed and that it’s unnecessary spending – like the long-plagued bullet train project – that prevents funds from reaching road repairs.

“The gas and car tax hikes will cost the typical family of four $700 more per year in higher taxes, but the roads will not get fixed because the politicians will continue to divert the funds as they always have in the past,” Carl DeMaio, chairman of Reform California and a leader of the Gas Tax Repeal campaign, explained in a statement.

For Gov. Jerry Brown, a repeal would be a major blow to his budget and legacy as he departs office, with the outgoing governor offering a blistering critique of the move.

“This flawed and dangerous measure pushed by Trump’s Washington allies jeopardizes the safety of millions of Californians by stopping local communities from fixing their crumbling roads and bridges. Just say no,” Brown said.

For Republicans nationally, having the repeal measure on the ballot is thought to be able to increase turnout and could be key in saving vulnerable congressional seats in the 39th and 49th districts, where longtime GOP representatives Ed Royce and Darrell Issa are retiring.

7 comments

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  1. Richard Rider
    Richard Rider 26 June, 2018, 12:23

    Win or lose, this repeal effort is going to cost the Democrats and their paymasters (primarily the public employee labor unions) tens of millions of dollars. Let’s hope that all their spending will be in vain.

    Reply this comment
    • ricky65
      ricky65 27 June, 2018, 07:54

      After today’s Janus ruling by SCOTUS, the PE unions better not waste their ill gotten cash by fighting the gas tax repeal. They are going to need it since their cash cow just died.
      Today is a good day indeed! 🙂

      Reply this comment
  2. Dude McCool
    Dude McCool 26 June, 2018, 14:09

    To Governor Brownstain, Nelson from the Simpson’s tv show asked me to give you a message… “HA HA!”

    Reply this comment
  3. Queeg
    Queeg 26 June, 2018, 15:32

    Honestly Comrades

    Doomers should be frisky, dirt cheap and spirited…. keep many moralistic/constitutionally ridgid fear balls in the air…. let em spend to defend….BK em….for ya never know… they will crack wide open like the Berlin Wall….history always repeats-

    Yada yada

    Reply this comment
  4. JPR
    JPR 26 June, 2018, 15:56

    One would think there already is adequate funding. Sac has money available for HSP, which is a Bust and legal defense and free health care for illegals, so let’s try prioritizing for once. My understanding is infrastructure spending was #2 before the Progressive Union faction took control of state government.

    Reply this comment
  5. Spurwing Plover
    Spurwing Plover 30 June, 2018, 07:48

    Taxes taxes taxes Tax and Spend liberal democrats we need to abolish all dumb taxes like a tax for soda pop like they have in Seattle

    Reply this comment
  6. Donkey
    Donkey 18 July, 2018, 14:12

    Stop the RAGWUS! 🙂

    Reply this comment

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