Proposition 1A Stands After Proposition 91
Vote
As expected Proposition 91
on the February ballot fell short of majority approval. The measure was essentially
duplicative of Proposition 1A, which voters overwhelmingly approved
in 2004. Both measures
provide constitutional protection to assure that sales taxes on
gasoline are used for transportation purposes.
Transportation California
and the California Alliance for Jobs—the lead proponents of the
initiative drive that qualified Proposition 91—urged voters to
reject the measure as being unnecessary in light of the passage of
Proposition 1A.
“The fact that we got
Propositions 1A and 1B as part of a comprehensive infrastructure
package in 2004 was a tremendous breakthrough for transportation,”
said Mark Watts, Executive Director of Transportation
California.
“Credit is due to the
Governor and Legislative leaders for advancing these landmark
measures and to Jim Earp of the Alliance for Jobs who chaired the
infrastructure campaign and to Dave Watts of Granite Construction
who led the industry’s fundraising effort. Propositions 1A and 1B are
not only recharging investment in transportation infrastructure,
they are providing a needed boost to the construction industry and
the California economy at a time when
we really need it.”
The Proposition 91
initiative was being circulated in 2004 when the Legislature and the
Governor came together on a comprehensive infrastructure package
that included Proposition 1A and Proposition 1B, the $20 billion
transportation bond.
Although filing of signatures was halted in light of the
legislative action, the measure ultimately qualified as a result of
a high validity rate on those signatures that had already been
filed. Even though
Proposition 1A was adopted, no mechanism exists to have a qualified
initiative removed from the ballot.
Proposition 91 received a
42% YES vote, despite no campaign in support and proponents urging a
NO vote in the ballot arguments. “The unexpected size of the
YES vote shows that Californians are still concerned about the
necessity of using tax dollars paid at the pump for transportation,”
Watts said. “The fact that the
Governor’s Budget proposal for 2008-09 fully protects Proposition 42
funding keeps faith with the electorate.
“It is imperative that the
construction industry continues to fight to protect transportation
funding and to develop new revenue sources to meet California’s
needs.”
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