Proposition 1A			00.00 10/06
	Opinion
	Submitted as: "Transportation Investment Fund"
	Gasoline taxes fall into what we consider the least oppressive form of tax, one paid by users for a service that is rendered, in this case a tax on the gasoline used by the vehicles which travel on the roads which the taxes should be used to pay for.
	Prop 42 in 2002 recognized this and set aside a special Transportation Investment Fund, into which gasoline taxes were to be transferred, and which was supposed to be used to maintain the roads infrastructure.  However, it contained a loophole which allowed the Governor to declare a "severe state fiscal hardship", and the Legislature to agree, by 2/3 vote, to not do the payment transfer and instead use the money for other purposes.  Using this excuse, the Fund was raided in recent years to cover the Budget shortfall.
	Our ideal version of Prop 1A would forbid this absolutely.  The Legislature provides a second best solution, by adding several requirements:
		The Legislature must commit by law to restore any suspended payment within 3 years of its having been suspended.
		The payment may not be suspended more than twice in a ten year period.
		The payment may not be suspended at all if a previous suspension has not been repaid.
	The opposition claims that even this limited restriction is too severe, and asks "what if" the state gets into another budget crisis and needs the money "for the children"?  We say, "what if" the Legislature were to do its doggone job for a change, and avoid a budget crisis?   Knowing this particular stash of money is not so easily available may help it find the backbone to do that.
	Vote YES on 1A.
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