SACRAMENTO, Calif. (CN) – With the fate of a mammoth new statewide tax hike on gasoline and keys to the governor’s mansion on the line, California’s record 19 million registered voters face a loaded midterm ballot.
Along with several high-profile congressional races that could decide which party takes over the House, Californians have the opportunity to repeal a $50 billion transportation tax package, greenlight new rent control laws, ditch daylight saving and pick a U.S. senator and new governor.
Since the June primary, an infusion of cash has flowed into the midterms, most notably toward the 11 statewide propositions. Special interest groups and wealthy donors have contributed over $347 million to and against the assorted measures, stuffing Golden State mailboxes and airwaves with campaign propaganda.
Voters have the chance to create immediate relief at the gas pumps through Proposition 6, which would nix Gov. Jerry Brown’s 2017 transportation package less affectionately known as the gas tax.
The Legislature approved the tax just eight days after Brown introduced it, prompting criticism the $52 billion package was fast-tracked by state Democrats without enough public input. The fourth-term governor drummed up just enough support within the Legislature to clear a two-thirds majority requirement for new taxes by promising skeptical lawmakers funding for infrastructure projects.
Brown’s plan – which raised state gasoline taxes for the first time in 23 years – is projected to generate $5.2 billion annually over the next decade. In a new online advertisement, the outgoing governor calls the repeal effort “dangerous” and urges Californians to vote against Proposition 6. Brown has previously called the repeal effort “stupid” and “devious.”
On the other side, Republicans are using Proposition 6 as a rallying cry. The California Republican Party, which now has fewer registered voters than Democrats and independents, hopes the repeal effort draws conservatives to vote in the gubernatorial and congressional races.
Underdog Republican gubernatorial candidate John Cox is one of the main donors to Proposition 6, along with the California Republican Party and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.
The proponents contend state Attorney General Xavier Becerra’s office gave the measure a misleading ballot title and description and are threatening to recall Becerra, a Democrat, if he’s re-elected.
Wesley Hussey, an associate professor of government at California State University, Sacramento, says Cox and the supporters got “saddled with a really bulky, not favorable initiative description,” and essentially ran out of Republican donors.
“It’s California and the Democrats dominate, and there’s not a lot of Republican money left to support things,” Hussey said in an interview.
The proposition’s opponents hold a decided fundraising advantage, gathering over $32 million compared to the Yes campaign’s $4.7 million. Recent polling by the Public Policy Institute of California predicts defeat for Proposition 6, with just 41 percent of likely voters saying they would vote for the repeal.
Donors are also emptying their wallets on another initiative that promises to alleviate California’s housing shortage by allowing municipalities to enact new rent control laws.
Follow @@NickCahill_5
