Sales tax bill sitting on governor’s desk
SACRAMENTO In local public transit advocacy circles, all eyes are on the political battle brewing in the state Capitol over the California budget, but it is not just because of state finances.
Potentially affected in the tug-of-war between Democratic lawmakers and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger are several hundred bills awaiting his signature of approval, including one that could determine the legitimacy of a countywide half-cent sales tax increase if approved by voters in November.
At issue in Los Angeles County is AB 2321, which would lift the existing sales tax cap, allowing officials to put an increase into effect if Measure R, which would raise $40 billion over the next 30 years for Metropolitan Transportation Authority projects, receives the necessary two-thirds votes in November.
Though passed on Aug. 31, the bill, which was authored by Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, was being held because the Republican governor said he would not sign any legislation until the long-standing budget delay ended. The bills were sent to the governor’s desk on Tuesday after the legislature passed a $104 billion budget in an early-morning session. Schwarzenegger announced later that day he would veto the budget.
While those advocating for the measure say they are confident the Republican governor will not turn away the proposed legislation, he did on Tuesday threaten to veto hundreds of bills if the legislature overrides his budget veto.
Schwarzenegger has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bills. If no action is taken by then, the bills automatically become law.
MTA officials said the governor has indicated he will not veto the bill, though a spokesperson with Schwarzenegger’s office said he has not taken a position.
“We fully expect him to sign it,” Marc Littman, spokesman for the MTA, said.
Sales tax revenue is expected to help pay for long-awaited projects like the Exposition Light Rail and Subway to the Sea, both of which will bring rail service to the Westside.
But supporters argue that more important than the revenue itself is what it will mean for future funding for projects, giving the MTA leverage for federal and state grants.
“That is what we’ll have to do, leverage local funds against other sources,” said Kimberleigh Richards, the public and legislative affairs director for Southern California Transit Advocates. “This is the best possible source of local funds.”
While the governor’s approval of the Feuer bill remains certain to many, the fate of the sales tax measure is less certain.
Richards pointed out that the previous two sales tax measures — Proposition A in 1980 and Proposition C in 1990 — only required a simple majority.
“It’s a much more uphill battle to get two-thirds of voters to cast yes,” she said.
The measure has received opposition from the Bus Riders Union, which argues that the focus should be spent more on improving and expanding existing bus service. A number of officials have also spoken out against it, including county supervisors Mike Antonovich and Don Knabe. Still, supporters remain optimistic that they will prevail on Nov. 4.
“There should be a good turnout for the presidential election with more progressive voters who would be likely to support the measure,” said Darrell Clarke, a Santa Monica resident who heads the Friends 4 Expo Transit group. “But you just don’t know.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 17, 2008. Read the original PDF.