I've been watching the September 14 recall election commercials with great interest. Larry Elder's ads are riddled with falsehoods. Here's just one example. He talks about the recent 5.11 cent raise in the gas tax in California, making it the highest in the country. He says in his ad that Gavin Newsome just raised the gas tax again. This is untrue.
This automatic increase is due to SB1 that was signed into law in 2017. It incrementally raises the fuel tax each year to help fund road and bridge repairs. (Ha, ha, I'm still looking for road repairs). The state maintains that most of the money goes to fix potholes and rebuild crumbling roads, bridges and public transportation. Whether that is taking place is the subject for another time.
In 2018, Proposition 6 was on the ballot to get rid of the gas tax with a YES vote. Voters could keep the gas tax with a NO vote. Guess what? Proposition 6 failed at the ballot, so we still have the gas tax increase every year. IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE GAS TAX, IT'S THE VOTERS YOU SHOULD BE UPSET WITH. THEY HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO GET RID OF THE TAX, AND VOTED TO KEEP IT.
So, to be clear. Gavin Newsome didn't increase the California gas tax in July, 2021. It was raised because of SB1, passed in 2017. When voters had an opportunity in 2018 to get rid of the gas tax, they declined.
Please, when you listen to ads, on both sides, check the facts and figures. You already know it, but ads do not always tell the truth. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but no their own facts.
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