*** A video of Runner questioning and voting ‘no’ on the gas tax hike is available at http://youtu.be/RWc1KzjMI4A. ***
SACRAMENTO
– George Runner today issued the following statement regarding a 3.5
cent increase in California’s excise tax on gasoline scheduled to take
effect July 1, 2013:
“On July 1
Californians will be forced to begin paying the highest gas taxes in
the nation. They have a right to be angry and demand explanation from
their elected officials.
“I too am upset and frustrated by this tax increase, which stems from a complicated law known as the ‘fuel tax swap.’
“The
goal of the fuel tax swap wasn’t good tax policy. Instead, its sole
purpose was to allow the Legislature to move more than a billion dollars
in gas tax revenues into the state’s General Fund.
“I voted against the fuel tax swap. I also voted against the 3.5 cent rate increase that takes effect July 1.
“Although
the Board of Equalization must implement the law as written, a certain
amount of discretion comes into play. Most of the July 1 increase is based on uncertain projections of future gas prices.
“I don’t think we should be in the business of raising taxes based on guesswork.”
Elected
in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million
Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more
information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.