The Senator Reports

March 25th, 2010

No More Budgeting Gimmicks; Time for Real Reform
By Senator Mark Wyland (R-Carlsbad)

Last week the Governor vetoed a budgeting gimmick recently pushed by liberals in the Legislature that would have abolished a voter-backed initiative to protect funding for our highways and roads. Considering that I was a strong ‘NO’ vote, I applaud the governor’s choice.

Proposition 42, passed by voters in 2002, provides a specific formula for the allocation of sales tax revenue from gasoline purchases. Regrettably, the majority party schemed up a complex gas-tax swap that altered the sales tax and increased the excise tax on gasoline by over 17 cents per gallon. Their complex maneuvering would’ve allowed bureaucrats to more easily rearrange where the gasoline revenues go, without a vote of the Legislature or the protection in funding associated with Proposition 42.

It’s time to stop with the complicated gimmicks that ignore the wishes of the taxpayers, and start auditing spending and evaluating government programs for effectiveness. That’s the only way we can find real savings in California.

Senator Mark Wyland represents the people of the 38th Senate District, which includes cities in north San Diego County and the south Orange County cities of San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano.

Senator Mark Wyland
1910 Palomar Point Way, Suite 105
Carlsbad, California 92008
760.931.2455 Office
email: senator.wyland@sen.ca.gov