|
12/21/04-A group of transportation advocates called on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger not to divert highway funds for use in balancing the state budget.
Elected state officials have siphoned more than $2 billion in transportation sales tax funds in the past two years into the state general fund.
The coalition, including legislators, unions and transportation advocates, contends the raids on road funds in recent years break faith with California voters who agreed, overwhelmingly passing Proposition 42 in 2002, that fuel pump sales tax revenues be used solely for transportation.
However, that law allows the governor and state lawmakers to divert the money in the case of a fiscal emergency.
Assemblymen Tom Harman, R-Huntington Beach, and George Plescia, R-La Jolla, plan to introduce a constitutional amendment that would foreclose future fuel sales tax diversions.
Elected state officials have siphoned more than $2 billion in transportation sales tax funds in the past two years into the state general fund.
The coalition, including legislators, unions and transportation advocates, contends the raids on road funds in recent years break faith with California voters who agreed, overwhelmingly passing Proposition 42 in 2002, that fuel pump sales tax revenues be used solely for transportation.
However, that law allows the governor and state lawmakers to divert the money in the case of a fiscal emergency.
Assemblymen Tom Harman, R-Huntington Beach, and George Plescia, R-La Jolla, plan to introduce a constitutional amendment that would foreclose future fuel sales tax diversions.