California Proposition 91 (2008)
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The proponents of Proposition 91 stated that the passage of Proposition 1A in November 2006 satisfied the goals of Proposition 91 and that Proposition 91 was no longer needed.[1]
Background
The state imposed $9 billion in tax to fund transportation budget during the 2007 term.
Article XIX Revenues imposes an 18 cent tax per gallon of gasoline and disel fuel. In addition it also charges truck weight, driver license, and vehicle registration fees. The Constitution allows for these fees to be loaned to the General Fund if the amount is repaid in full by the end of the same fiscal year.
There is also a reported $1.4 billion in local and county taxes to fund the transportation funds.
Supporters
The sponsors of Proposition 91 are listed as James Earp and Richard Martland.
The bill was backed by the California Alliance for Jobs, a lobbying group that represents the heavy construction.
Legislative "fix"
In January 2006, the California Alliance for Jobs launched a petition drive for an initiative drafted to “close the loophole” in the law that had allowed legislators to use funds taken from Proposition 42 for non-transportation purposes.
Simultaneously to conducting the initiative drive, the group was working towards a "legislative fix" on the Nov. 2006 ballot as part of an infrastructure package. This way Proposition 91 act as a back up and motivation for the legislature to give special attention to the initiative.
In April 2006 negotiations with the legislature began and ended in May. While negotiations were being settled between the legislature and California Alliance for Jobs, the deadline for November ballot was approaching. The group decided to turn in the 600,000 signatures, in case the legislature failed to act, but withheld the other 400,000 signature they'd collected. The legislature and the California Alliance for Jobs came to an agreement later that month, passing Prop1A.
However the validity of the signatures was a higher rate than usual (by only 7,000 signatures or just over a 1 percent margin) and qualified for the ballot.
Vote Yes! Vote No!
Because of Prop1A, California Alliance for Jobs is now urging voters to vote No on Proposition 91. However, there is an independent campaign supporting Proposition 91, led by Southern California Transit Advocates, a non-profit organization supporting public transportation. Other supporters include the California Republican Assembly and the Kern Council of Governments.[2]
See also
- California 2008 Ballot Measures
- California Initiative and Referendum Law
- Campaign finance requirements for California ballot measures
- Petition drive deadlines in 2008
- California signature requirements
External links
- Yes on Proposition 91
- Legislative Analyst's Office, Transportation Funds.
- California Alliance for Jobs press release concerning Prop 91
- Prop 91 Ballot language
Additional reading
- Backers now urge voting against Prop. 91, San Francisco Chronicle, Jan. 10, 2008
