S P E C I A L
F E A T U R E
Cal Attorney, continued from page 8
fees has threatened the capacity of the department to carry out many of its core functions. “When either the legislature or a voter initiative funds the agency using a fee, that fee is often designated for a specific purpose and only that purpose. Reliance on these special funds tends to limit an agency’s ability to be nimble and respond quickly to unanticipated emergencies when they arise,” he asserted. On top of this reduced flexibility, he added that several bills have been enacted which contain mandates upon DOJ, but which are missing an important component: funding. “Placing unfunded mandates on an agency and limiting its funding puts an agency like DOJ in a precarious position,” Becerra stated. “Last year,” Becerra added, “No one anticipated the extent to which federal executive actions would impact the people of California and the Department of Justice. Who knew that the federal government would play so fast and loose with the law and taxpayers’ pocketbooks?” he asked rhetorically. "If it feels like the attacks are constantly coming, it's because they are. And, the hardworking women and men at DOJ are doing the best they can to serve our great state. I am proud of the great work we do at the DOJ, I am proud of what this committee has done in the past to support the mission of the Department of Justice." Becerra stated in conclusion, “I am optimistic that together we can find a way to meet the challenges ahead and ensure that California continues to lean forward.”
N E W S Gas Tax Repeal
Looking for additional stimulating content? Visit us online
TheIEVoice.com 12 VOICE | MAY 11, 2017 | theievoice.com
I N
B R I E F
Sacramento-Last week, the California Secretary of State reported that the California Repeal Gas Tax and Fees Increase Initiative as filed. Representative Travis Allen (R-Huntington Beach), who filed the repeal initiative, said, “Jerry Brown’s decision to push through the largest gas tax increase in California’s history without the approval of voters demonstrated a complete disregard for ordinary Californians. This ballot initiative will correct Brown’s failure and allow the people of California to decide for themselves if they want to raise their taxes.” The state legislature has already referred a constitutional amendment to the ballot for the June 5, 2018 election that would create a constitutional requirement aimed at ensuring revenue from fees and taxes generated by SB1 be used only for transportation-related projects. SB1 will increase the state’s gasoline tax, diesel fuel tax, create an annual transportation improvement fee, and an annual zero-emission vehicles fee, among other changes. SB1 will raise money to repair the state’s crumbling infrastructure and is expected to generate an estimated $52.4 billion between 2017 and 2027.