Jerry Brown has provided for the poor?? Are you kidding? Billions of our taxpayer funds have provided for them. Are you aware of multiple legislative bills that have provided bond funds to developers in the form of loans that are NEVER paid back. Who do you think pays the investors back? We do. At the same time, the Democrats successfully degrade these people's lives to being completed supported by "the state". I've spent my whole life here, and this state is headed for a huge financial crash.
And what I would really admire is if Jerry Brown contributed $25 million to housing for the homeless and poor elderly.
Why doesn't Jerry Brown contribute his $25 million to fight the gas tax repeal to the CA government to fix the roads and infrastructure so that citizens don't have to pay more for gas.
Outrageous!
what we all must realize to live in California cost more because it protects us more. we are far superior than the rest of the United States and environmental and social a community programs. We spearhead technology across the globe. We may be the only state in the USA left where Innovative minds and genders an ethnics feel safe to come. and we can push back and vote out unfair taxes. And burdens on middle and low income people such as keeping rent stabilization. this gas tax is not one to push back on. Over the decades we have been able to afford it. Also Governor Brown has provided for the poor people but Republicans keep pushing back public transit Innovations. Do not follow the shiny keys. This is not the time to have ADHD!
The tax on gas provides environmental welfare which the whole nation needs but only this state is currently doing. You should rejoice and be honored if you can afford to pay it. If you cannot this is the time to start sharing rides. And enjoying public transportation! When was the last time you could sleep on the way to work? Take a metro bus or train and wonderful air conditioning and safe transport.
Think of all the 1% that the majority in America live here in California. They have multiple private planes, chauffeurs, multiple Transportation options on an hourly basis. They can afford this! It is repulsive that they are persuading the majority of California's to push back on this tax that has been working for decades. Evidence is everyday!
The Republicans are playing California big time and many Californians aren't noticing. They supported a conservative candidate in a swing area (Fullerton, Orange County) who won, and now there isn't a liberal supermajority in the state senate.
They managed to push their gubernatorial candidate into the number 2 position in the last election. Having a republican on the ballot, even if his chances of wining are slim, will bring more conservatives to the polls in November. Even though both parties know that the state transportation infrastructure is in dire need of funding, they're betting that the gas tax repeal will also bring out the crazy right. So, as more and more republican funding pours into the state, California should expect a harder sell for good ballot measures this November.
Why are the conservatives so set on destroying our great state? Maybe we should seriously consider Calexit.
Good for you, Jerry. The gas tax puts part of the cost of all of these miles of beautiful country roads (in the Red zones) and wonderful freeways on the people who use them. Tourists, people who don't report income and drivers of inefficient vehicles will pay where they normally do not now. It also affects peoples choices when buying a car or truck, consistent with California's green philosophy. I'm with you!
I have reservations about the gas tax. Like most sales taxes on living essentials, it puts a bigger burden on people with lower income than people who are better off. But putting money into infrastructure is necessary. So is twisting people's arms about cutting back on our reliance on fossil fuels, particularly commercial vehicle operators. Maybe this will push them to upgrade their fleets, or look into alternative fuel vehicles.
The thing I most respect about Jerry Brown, even when I disagree with him, is his willingness to be unpopular. Human beings are, by their nature, generally short-sighted. Our animal instincts tell us to eat the food in front of us rather than save it for another day. Most politicians just tell us to eat that food, promising it will be a never-ending feast. Jerry Brown is one of the few who is willing force California to plan for tomorrow even when the whole state hates him for it.
5
Governor Brown has an admirable record of long range, rational and pragmatic leadership. While I and others certainly do not embrace every policy he promotes & executes, there can be no doubt his intellectual justification is based upon empirical factual evidence and keen comprehension of history. Therefore, I am quite pleased he will remain a force for balance in not only California (the 6th largest economy in the world), but for the other 18 states that have worked with CA on sustainable policies that benefit our children and grandchildren, and the nations of the world where CA is recognized for its socially responsible leadership (especially in the age of Trump-Pence).
37
I'm proud to be a California these days, and have been an admirer the governor during both of his terms as Governor.
His one big policy error is his determination to siphon off more and more water from the Sacramento River Delta (and thus, SF Bay) to send to the Southlands. During his first term he touted the peripheral canal, which voters crushed. Now he want so do the same with a giant underground pipeline, which, I hope, will meet the same fate as the canal.
I don't understand why a professed environmentalist would support these huge, expensive projects that would cause so much damage to the ecology of the delta and the bay.
Governor, let the high-speed rail system be your legacy and leave our water where it belongs.
9
California recently surpassed the UK to become the 5th largest economy in the world. Thanks Jerry!
So the governor wants to keep campaign money in order to "maintain relevance." He obviously plans to dole it out when people come to him hat in hand. He wants to wield influence.
What could be more important than wielding influence right now on such a critical issue as the gasoline tax?
Full disclosure: I live in Trumpistan, not in California. I have admired the governor and largely support him politically. On this issue I think he is suffering from old man disease. Just as Dianne Feinstein suffers from old woman's disease. It's time to let go.
5
Dear Trumpistani, CA law regarding the special fuel tax is quite simple: All revenue is earmarked for the specific project of road maintenance & construction. Other needs have taken precedence, but now with our economy in good condition (we're the 6th largest global economy), this modest tax is affordable to all.
I actually live in California. I respect my elders (wisdom!) and support our gas taxes.
Those 120 degree temperatures in Los Angeles over the weekend were scary. I've lived here all my life and never seen it where everything green around looks as it someone's taken a blow torch to it. Even the palm leaves wilted in my neighborhood.
11
If you are going to cite Trout and Kemp for making the All Star team, which is fine, why omit Brandon Crawford? It's not like you didn't have room.
Please explain.
12
And Blake Treinen from the A's, and whoever they dredged-up from the Pads. And why no Jed Lowrie (yet)?
2
So the gas-tax repeal petition isn't about "regressive taxes burdening the poor" or "governmental overreach." It's a cynical ploy by the Republicans to gin up a controversy so their Fox-News-watching adherents will show up to vote.
Let the state's roads crumble, what do the Republicans care? They don't have a plan for fixing the roads -- they only know how to destroy.
48
Yep, spot on. (Though the Dems are kinda a mess right now, too.)
1
It would be a drop in the bucket, but he should roll the money into the general fund to reduce the public pension liability that his Party help to create. With General Fund money paying for increasing public pension costs, there is no money for roads, parks, and other services. That's why a gas tax was passed ….. the Assembly and Senate don't want to acknowledge this Inconvenient Truth .
California’s two biggest public pension systems are badly underfunded. They're also the largest and second-largest public pension funds in the country. They are the California Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS, and the teachers' pension fund, CalSTRS.
CalPERS has unfunded liabilities — benefits promised compared with anticipated funding — of $136 billion. For CalSTRS, the projected red ink is $87 billion.
If you total up the unfunded liabilities of all state and local public pension systems in California, the projected debt comes to around $333 billion, but that's a conservative figure based on official reports. It could be up over $1 trillion.
6
In a perfect world one would agree with you. But we are not in the perfect world. Mr Brown has a well earned reputation for promoting long range sustainable policy. Sadly, influence co$t$ . Without funding we will lose a strong voice to promote sustainability. Think more of the future generations.
11
The pension underfunding is not a debt, but an actuarial estimate - and it can be as large or as small as your politics prefer, depending on the rate of investment earnings you assume.
The Guvnah took initial steps at pension reform in 2013, and more will probably be needed. The sky, however, is intact. Meanwhile, taxpayers need to not be asleep when their futures are mortgaged by termed-out officials in union negotiations.
7
The pension obligation is a long-term liability. Saying that the sky is intact is equivalent to kicking the can down the road. You’re correct in saying that “taxpayers need to not be asleep when their futures are mortgaged by termed-out officials in union negotiations.” That’s why all politicians need to address the public pension liability now before and cities like San Bernardino, Vallejo, Stockton and Mammoth Lakes, file for Chapter 9 bankruptcy. Bankruptcy is a Federal Court and outside of control of Sacramento. Once in Federal Court pensioners will take a haircut or the taxpayer will be stuck with increased taxes or reduced services.
You’re also right about the rate of investment affecting the liability, but the California’s pension funds use an assumed annual rate of return on its investments of 7.5%. That assumption has been slightly lowered in recent years, and analysts have suggested it may still be too optimistic.