Posted on 12/21/2005 5:52:28 PM PST by NormsRevenge
SACRAMENTO (AP) - A construction industry group on Wednesday urged lawmakers to approve a $30 billion to $40 billion bond measure that would pay for improvements to roads, levees and ports and would be funded in part by a sales-tax increase.
The recommendation by the California Alliance for Jobs comes as Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and legislators focus on how to deal with a huge backlog of projects. The state already has about $100 billion in unmet transportation needs, said Jim Earp, the alliance's executive director.
"The problem is enormous, it's critical and it's overdue," he told reporters.
Earp said a quarter-percent sales tax increase and fees charged to people and businesses benefiting from the improvements could help pay off the bonds. A quarter-percent sales tax hike would raise about $20 billion over a 30-year bond repayment period, he said.
The sales tax varies in California by county and city but ranges from 7.25 percent to 8.75 percent.
But a spokesman for Schwarzenegger's finance department, H.D. Palmer, said the Republican governor wouldn't support a tax increase.
"The governor's opposition to a tax increase is long-standing and it continues," he said.
If lawmakers and the governor reject a tax hike, they probably would have to reduce the size of the bond measure or break it into smaller bond proposals that would be placed on successive election ballots, Earp said.
"We recognize that the tax thing is problematic from a political standpoint," he said. "There's a lot of reticence to go in that direction, (but) we feel voters are ready for that."
The alliance said the bond measure should include funding for improvements to highways, levees, mass transit systems and port access. But Earp said his organization recognizes that lawmakers and the governor also would want to cover other projects, including school construction and hospital seismic-safety improvements.
The alliance represents more than 1,700 construction companies and 50,000 construction workers in northern and central California.
Yeah, and I bet they're all union workers, paying that prevailing wage. That'll be $27 dollars an hour to operate a shovel and we ain't kidding.
They'll steal the money and use it for welfare and affirmative action programs.
They'll steal the money and use it for welfare and affirmative action programs.
---
They already squandered the bulk of the internet windfall on unions and illegals and the pathetic energy crisis that was self-induced by idiots masquerading as legislators 'looking out' for the public's best interest.
When my state government starts spending the highway funds generated by the gas tax money we approved years ago, I may consider more taxes. Right now they just used it as a slush fund.
Norm it doesn't matter how the bond is worded or how it is financed, the lying bastards in Sacramento will find a way to appropriate the money to spend it on things for which it wasn't intended.
Here in San Jose -- we are going through an investigation where our City Manager, Mayor and our "city leaders" approved an ILLEGAL $11.25 MILLION dollar extra payment to our trash/garbage collectors....
The Mayor STILL has his job....
The City Manager resigned...
The other "City Leaders" are telling us they were too stupid to realize what was going on.....
And for "professional" assholes like this -- we pay, and pay, and pay....
NO NEW TAXES..... They just feed the greedy, stupid and corrupt bastards..
Starve the bastards until the realize there is no more money coming...
Semper Fi
Depending on the county,type of job classification ,scale and cost of public bid,anywhere from $23 to $38 hourly to be more specific.
When my state government starts spending the highway funds generated by the gas tax money we approved years ago, I may consider more taxes. Right now they just used it as a slush fund."'
Gray Davis raided the highway funds generated by gasoline sales more than once. He was the ultimate pick-pocket to the taxpayers.
If there is no money now, the funds were drained, and then $3.50/gallon gas put people off from their weekend and vacation driving. This isn't new, and it was a long time coming. Not Arnold's fault.
Not to mention these prevailing wage jobs are tied up if you don't fill out the report each month. In my opinion, I'd just as soon stay away from 'em.
Funny how the AP made the CAJ sound like a private industry group. No mention of unions in the whole piece. Not once.
Who needs roads? Buy an Evil SUV like the one i got. :)
As long as the roads don't plunge into a cliff you'll be ok.
They're no different than any other stupid lobby these days. Between industry groups and the State, I'm thinking of an analogy to the ol' 69, but a damned sight more malodorous.
Most state money is being sucked into rapidly expanding entitlement programs, like MediCal, that is evolving into a backdoor way into single payor. The spending all has automatic increases built into it, and more and more people, legal or not, are becoming eligible. Even small adjustments in these programs would saving billions.
Instead, the drumbeat for higher taxes continues.
Of course they will. That's how the game is played.
It's a shell game - - money from the bond goes into the same great big pot as all the rest of the taxpayer money that the scumbag whore politicians use to buy votes with. Anybody who believes that the money raised from a bond issue is used "strictly" for what the scumbag whore politicians claim it will be used for is a complete and hopeless fool.
"would be funded in part by a sales-tax increase." It will only be a temporary tax right? /s
The purpose of my reply was to inform those not familiar with the AGC that they are a front group for unions. AP's article made the CAJ sound like a lobbying group for the construction industry.
The subtle shift from Construction industry in the title to A construction industry group in the body of the piece probably went right past many readers which was the intention of the author. Who would even bother to read the article if it were titled:
Construction industry unions back $40 billion bond, hike in sales tax?
PLA Heaven. $30 billion ought to build a short bridge and reroute a country road around a few red legged frogs.
Good point, AM. That's exactly what it is.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.