CBS47 Investigation: Gov. Newsom redirects gas tax money. It won’t fund highways, railway system
With a stroke of his pen, California Governor Gavin Newsom has redirected part of the money you pay at the pump with the state’s gas tax to the railway system and other projects.
Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-19-19.
It calls for leveraging billion in annual state transportation funds to reduce green house gases and emissions.
The order directs money away from fixing local highways, stalling important projects here in the valley.
Valley Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R)-Fresno, is upset and wants Republicans and Democrats in the state to speak out.
Assemblyman Patterson says, “One of the very first things Governor Newsom decides to do, is put forward an executive order and his people at Caltrans have decided they are going to terminate addition north and south freeway lanes on Highway 99 in Tulare and Madera County. I’m almost speechless with response to this.”
According to the Caltrans report, the projects cost a total of 17-million dollars.
Gov. Newsom’s Executive Order Authorizing Theft of Voter-Approved Gas Tax Money
Order violates Prop. 69, while eliminating highway expansion and repair projects
Through an Executive Order, California Governor Gavin Newsom has redirected gas tax money to fund railway systems and other projects. The gas tax revenue would have repaired and upgraded the state’s broken highways and roads.
Californians pay the highest gas prices in the nation, most of which is taxes.
Of vital concern, Newsom’s latest road plan for California eliminates two important highway expansion projects on vital freight corridors in Central California.
Governor Newsom signed Executive Order N-19-19 September 20, directing the already controversial gas tax money away from fixing local highways in favor of rail projects.
Assemblyman Jim Patterson (R-Fresno) recently explained that in the 2020 Transportation Plan are two projects that would have increased stretches of Highway 99 from four to six lanes in the Central Valley. Patterson says that a Cal Trans’ report even notes the “bottleneck” created at these sections along this major freight corridor.
“Instead of building capacity on our highways to move people and freight, Governor Newsom is funding his pet rail projects throughout the state,” Patterson said. “This theft of funds meant to improve our roadways is a glimpse into the future of transportation in our state and Newsom continues to execute his September 2019 Climate Change Executive Order. The Central Valley is just the beginning. Other road projects will likely be next.”
Governor Gavin Newsom Breaks Another Promise to Californians
Remember when Democrats increased the gas tax with the sole promise of “improving local and state roadway systems?”
Late in the day on September 20, 2019, when he thought no one was watching, Governor Newsom quietly passed an executive order directing $5 billion of transportation funding to be redirected to his Climate Change Scoping Plan, which focuses on “encouraging” Californians to give up cars.
In 2017, California Dems promised voters that the just passed gas tax would be used to “rebuild our aging roads.” Now Democrats are saying they don’t care about the roads.
In addition to breaking the promise to voters – who now pay the highest gas prices in the nation thanks in part to the SB 1 gas tax – Newsom’s quiet diversion also means $5 billion less for road repairs and improvements.
September 20, 2019: Newsom Takes Transportation Funding (pdf)
Sept 20, 2019: Gas Tax Diversion Executive Order (pdf)
cssrc.us/content/governor-gavin-newsom-breaks-another-promise-californians
Cities will lose gas tax money if they don’t meet housing goals under Gavin Newsom’s plan
Read more here:
www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article227419534.html#storylink=cpy
www.sfchronicle.com/politics/article/Gov-Newsom-gas-tax-penalty-plan-on-housing-13680563.php
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