California Gas Tax Hike

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Bad news for Californians from the National Taxpayers Union:

. . . [S]ome members of the California Legislature are seeking to add yet another ten cents per gallon by raising your gas taxes. That's a 55.5% increase in the taxes you currently pay. Of course, when the measure is debated on the floor of the Legislature, they could decide to increase the tax even more!

The politicians in Sacramento claim that they need more of your money to pay for transportation needs, which should have been funded under the terms of Proposition 42. Proposition 42, enacted through referendum in March 2002, sets aside a special transportation account which is supposedly funded from the present 18 cents per gallon tax.

Unfortunately for you and other California motorists, the Legislature concealed an escape clause in Proposition 42's fine print. Upon recommendation of the Governor and a 2/3 vote of both houses, Proposition 42's requirements can be suspended and the gasoline tax monies collected can be diverted into the General Fund. Former Governor Gray Davis proposed, and both Houses approved, a partial suspension of Proposition 42 in the two years since the measure was enacted.

State Senator Tom Torlakson (D-Antioch) is the proponent and driving force behind the new gas tax hike. He claims that nine of the ten cents collected will be used to build and maintain highways and city streets, while the remaining penny will be used for transportation-related environmental air impact programs.

But you and I know better. With the pols in Sacramento continually raiding voter-established transportation funds, you're still stuck in traffic jams while they claim they don't have enough money to solve the problems that they've made worse... Give them even more money and they'll simply waste that, too.

The NTU has set up an online petition, and you can also contact your California state legislators at the using the following links:

For All Assembly Members Websites and Emails please go to: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/acsframeset7text.htm

To find your Assembly Member or Senator directly click this link and then enter your zip code: http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/yourleg.html