Proposition 6

Proposition 6 was a California ballot proposition that aimed to repeal the Road Repair and Accountability Act, a California State Legislature-passed law that increased California Department of Transportation funding through gas tax and vehicle registration fee hikes, supported by Jerry Brown, California Governor, and Anthony Rendon, Speaker of the California State Assembly. The proposition was voted on during the 2018 California elections, with Dianne Feinstein, United States Senator, and Kevin de León, California State Senate President, opposing the repeal. The California Democratic Party, California Labor Federation, and Service Employees International Union also opposed the proposition, while the California Republican Party, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, and National Federation of Independent Business supported it, with John Cox, California gubernatorial candidate, and Dana Rohrabacher, United States House of Representatives member, advocating for the repeal.

Introduction

Proposition 6 was part of a broader debate on transportation infrastructure funding in California, with proponents arguing that the increased taxes and fees were an undue burden on California drivers, including those in Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Jose. Opponents, including California State Transportation Agency Secretary Brian Kelly, countered that the funding was necessary to address the state's road maintenance backlog, which affected California State Route 1, Interstate 5, and other major highways. The proposition was also supported by Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform President, and Jenny Beth Martin, Tea Party Patriots co-founder, who argued that the tax increases were excessive and would harm California's economy, including the Silicon Valley and Hollywood industries.

Background

The Road Repair and Accountability Act, also known as Senate Bill 1, was passed by the California State Legislature in 2017, with the support of California State Assembly members like Jim Frazier and Kevin Mullin. The law increased the gas tax by 12 cents per gallon and raised vehicle registration fees by $25 to $175 per year, depending on the vehicle's value, with the revenue generated going towards California Department of Transportation projects, including the California High-Speed Rail and Bay Bridge maintenance. The law also included provisions for transit and active transportation funding, benefiting Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and San Francisco Municipal Railway. However, the law was opposed by California Republicans, including Devon Mathis, Vince Fong, and Marie Waldron, who argued that the tax increases were too high and would harm California businesses, such as those in the Agriculture and Tourism industries.

Provisions

Proposition 6 would have repealed the Road Repair and Accountability Act and eliminated the increased taxes and fees, resulting in a loss of funding for California Department of Transportation projects, including road maintenance and public transportation initiatives, such as the Los Angeles Metro Rail and San Diego Trolley. The proposition would have also required that any future increases in gas taxes or vehicle registration fees be approved by a majority of California voters, similar to the requirements for tax increases in Colorado and Oklahoma. This provision was supported by Jon Coupal, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association President, and David Wolfe, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association legislative director, who argued that it would give California voters more control over tax policy, including the California State Board of Equalization and Franchise Tax Board.

Support_and_Opposition

Supporters of Proposition 6, including Carl DeMaio, Reform California Chairman, and John Moorlach, California State Senate member, argued that the tax increases were excessive and would harm California's economy, including the Agriculture and Manufacturing industries. They also argued that the funding generated by the Road Repair and Accountability Act would be wasted on bureaucratic overhead and inefficient projects, such as the California High-Speed Rail. Opponents, including Jerry Brown, California Governor, and Anthony Rendon, Speaker of the California State Assembly, countered that the funding was necessary to address the state's road maintenance backlog and improve public transportation, including the Bay Area Rapid Transit and Metrolink systems. They also argued that the proposition would harm California's economy by reducing funding for infrastructure projects, which would affect construction and engineering jobs, including those at Bechtel Group and AECOM.

Impact_and_Aftermath

The defeat of Proposition 6 meant that the Road Repair and Accountability Act remained in effect, and the increased taxes and fees continued to generate funding for California Department of Transportation projects, including road maintenance and public transportation initiatives, such as the Los Angeles Metro Rail and San Diego Trolley. The outcome of the proposition was seen as a victory for California Democrats, including Gavin Newsom, California Governor-elect, and Toni Atkins, California State Senate President pro tempore, who had opposed the repeal. The defeat of the proposition also meant that California voters would not have more control over tax policy, including the California State Board of Equalization and Franchise Tax Board, which was a key provision of the proposition, supported by Grover Norquist and Jenny Beth Martin.

Legislative_History

The Road Repair and Accountability Act was passed by the California State Legislature in 2017, with the support of California State Assembly members like Jim Frazier and Kevin Mullin. The law was signed into effect by Jerry Brown, California Governor, on April 28, 2017, with the support of California State Senate members like Jim Beall and Bob Wieckowski. The law went into effect on November 1, 2017, and the increased taxes and fees began generating funding for California Department of Transportation projects, including road maintenance and public transportation initiatives, such as the Bay Area Rapid Transit and Metrolink systems. The California Republican Party and other opponents of the law then launched a campaign to repeal the law through Proposition 6, which was ultimately defeated by California voters on November 6, 2018, with the support of California Democratic Party, California Labor Federation, and Service Employees International Union. Category:California ballot propositions