UPDATE: 02-06-08  PROPOSITION DEFEATED DUE TO LACK OF ADVERTISING SUPPORT

With no real advocacy, this proposition was defeated, having been misunderstood by the general public. The opportunity to curtail the use of motor fuel taxes to infrastructure repair and replacement was lost in this round. The tax money can not be used in the general fund to fund additional experiments in California's lberal and wacky social engineering.

Original Blog Entry ...

Accidental Success?

According to knowledgeable sources, California's Proposition 91 was conceived and executed by the California transportation lobbyists as a threat to California's legislature to pass legislation favorable to their position.

Unfortunately, after the legislature caved into their demands, the required number of signatures had been gathered and the proposition qualified for the ballot.

So the backers simply abandoned Proposition 91 and started advertising that the proposition was no longer needed.

From the Sacramento Bee...

"The measure was a negotiating tactic used by the transportation lobby in 2006 as they pressed the governor and Legislature to cut a deal on what ultimately became Proposition 1A, which voters approved (with 77 percent of the vote) in November of that year."

"After lawmakers struck the deal, proponents of what's now Proposition 91 were supposed to stop submitting signatures. But they were victims of their own success, having already turned in enough signatures to qualify for the ballot."

"So in the official voting pamphlet, the authors of 91 are urging a "no" vote."

What does Tom McClintock say?

Tom McClintock, the most conservative member of the California Senate and one who is almost universally acknowledged by both parties to be one of the true experts on California budgeting and legislative procedures, urges a YES vote.

McClintock on the Propositions

Prop. 91 Transportation Funding Protection: YES!  This measure flatly prohibits Sacramento from raiding our highway taxes to paper over their budget deficits.  When a watered-down version of Prop. 91 was adopted by the legislature, its sponsors dropped this measure after it qualified.  Nevertheless, if you want to genuinely protect our transportation taxes from being raided, Prop 91 is the Real McCoy.

The Official story...

From the Official California Voter Guide...

PROPOSITION 91 -- TRANSPORTATION FUNDS.

INITIATIVE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

• Prohibits certain motor vehicle fuel sales and use taxes, that are earmarked for the Transportation Investment Fund, from being retained in the General Fund. Currently such taxes may be retained if Governor issues a proclamation, a special statute is enacted by a 2/3 vote of the Legislature, repayment occurs within three years, and certain other conditions are met.
• Requires repayment by 6/30/17 of such vehicle fuel taxes retained in General Fund from 7/1/03 to 6/30/08. Currently repayment is generally required by 6/30/16.
• Changes how and when General Fund borrowing of certain transportation funds is allowed.

SUMMARY OF LEGISLATIVE ANALYST'S ESTIMATE OF NET STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FISCAL IMPACT:

• Increases stability of state funding for highways, streets, and roads and may decrease stability of state funding for public transit. May reduce stability of certain local funds for public transit.

Local funds for public transit? You mean like the Los Angeles plan for a underground subway under land bordered by numerous high-rise buildings and criss-crossed with known and unknown earthquake faults? You mean like the local transportation funds that were used to build the fat cat's Taj Mahal headquarters while simultaneously raising fares? You mean local funds that are paid to lobbyists and others to convince Californians to give up their cars in favor of New York style mass transit?

What can YOU do?

Fight back. VOTE YES on PROPOSITION 91 to keep California's fuel taxes for use in repairing our crumbling roads and bridges. Send a clear measure to the legislature: HANDS OFF OUR TAX MONEY!

Vote and encourage your neighbors to vote. It is our state and it is slowly being run into the ground for the benefit of special interests and illegal aliens. Please help make this state "Golden" again.

-- steve

EMERGENCY NOTICE: Watch your blood pressure when you read this link...

FAT CAT CALIFORNIA POLITICIANS WANT TO SCREW YOU: VOTE "NO" ON CALIFORNIA PROPOSITION 93

A reminder from OneCitizenSpeaking.com: a large improvement can result from a small change…

The object in life is not to be on the side of the majority, but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane. -- Marcus Aurelius

Reference Links:

The Sacramento Bee - Finally, a vote for 91|Sacramento Bee