Tax hike for road repairs approved
SACRAMENTO (AP) – The state Senate on Thursday night approved a $5-billion-a-year plan to boost California’s gas and vehicle taxes to pay for major road repairs, clearing a major hurdle for one of Gov. Jerry Brown’s top priorities.
The Assembly also approved it a short time later.
The governor and top legislative leaders pressed all week to convince fellow Democrats to support the measure in the face of opposition from environmentalists and anti-tax crusaders.
“You know how bad our roads are, and the conditions have been made worse by our recent winter weather,” said Sen. Jim Beall, a San Jose Democrat who worked on the bill for two years.
Republicans blasted the plan to ask for more money from taxpayers in a state that already has a high tax burden. Some questioned why the state would raise taxes to repair its existing infrastructure without adding more lanes of traffic as the population swells.
“We aren’t taxing champagne and caviar here,” said Sen. Ted Gaines, a Republican from El Dorado Hills outside Sacramento. “Transportation is a basic need to live and work and raise a family.”
Republicans say the state can fund road repairs with existing funds – an idea Democrats reject, contending it would require cuts to education and social services.
The evening votes in the Senate and Assembly capped a week of cajoling and armtwisting by Brown and top leg- islative leaders. Contractors and construction unions blanketed television, radio and social media with $1 million of ads promoting the plan and targeting undecided lawmakers.
Brown held rallies in the districts of targeted legislators and made unusual appearances before two legislative committees.
Sen. Anthony Cannella of Ceres was the only Republican to support the tax hike. Democratic Sen. Steve Glazer of Orinda was the only Democrat opposed.