Category Archives: campaign trend

+1 State Adopts Gas Tax Increase. 3 Pieces of Informed Intel

California voters approved a legislative increase in fuel taxes and vehicle fees by rejecting a rollback of those revenue sources in Propsoition 6. 

55% of voters approved the increased taxes and fees.

The 3 reasons attributed to the win? (see the reasons Missouri failed, ying and yang):

  • clearly detailing how the levies would be spent to fix deteriorating roads
  • fix  bridges
  • improve mass transit

A clear detailed plan won.

LA Times | California voter approval of gas tax increase gives hope…

2 Reasons Transportation Funding Failed in the Mount Laurel State

Colorado voters rejected by more than 20 points each 2 transportation funding mechanisms this November:

  • increased funding through a sales tax increase backed by Denver Chamber of Commerce 
  • $3.5 billion bond package paid through existing tax revenue and backed by a libertarian think tank

2 transportaiotn funding options that could get more Colorado support:

  • more specific funding proposals
  • encouraging regional solutions to provide matching funds

 

Thr Journal | Colorado transportation…

Lege TREND. Disguising a Gas Tax Bill for Transportation in a School Finance Deal. Here's How:

Where:  Utah

The legislative compromise: The Utah Legislature and Supports of Increasing School Funding made a deal that would:

  • put a 10cent gas tax question to the voters and then require legislative implementation after the vote
  •  the Legislature in exchange:
    • froze the state basic property tax rate for 5 years
    • created a new tax rate for the weighted pupil unit thereby creating a $292 million increase in education funding.
    • if the gas tax is approved, funds would be divded like this:
      • 70…

Texas Bond Elections on Transportation in November

  • Arlington $137,835,000 for street improvements
  • Austin $160,000,000 for transportation
  • Cibolo $4,750,000 for projects including road repair
  • Collin Co. $750,000,000 for roads and parks
  • Corpus Christi $52,000,000 for street improvements
  • Corpus Christi $22,000,000 for new roads
  • Duncanville $6,600,000 for street improvements
  • Edinurg $30,000,000 for roads and drainage
  • Hutto $70,000,000 for roads and drainage
  • Longview $27,090,000 for street improvements
  • Pflugerville $21,100,000 for…

Local TREND. Ride Share Wants Tolling?

In Seattle, Uber is supporting tolling for:

  • congestion pricing 

Are they doing this elsewhere? Yes, $10 M committed nationally to support sustainable mobility

Why does ride share support congestion pricing tolls?

  • the company supports “sustainable mobility” issues
  • the company supports measures to reduce congestion

The Hill | Uber to lobby for road tolling in Seattle

Campaign TREND. Texas Talk. Dedicating Severance Tax to the Permian Basin. 4 Key Points to the plan.

State Representative Landgraf proposes a change to transportation funding to help rural west Texas that includes:

  • Let oil producing areas retain a small percentage of severance taxes
    • The Rainy Day Fund has $11 Billion balance
    • $7-$8 billion is the standard for emergencies
  • Dedicate the severance tax revenue “to the region where it’s generated”
  • The dedicated revenue would pay for: 
    • adequate infrastructure
    • first responders
  • “save lives and allow commerce to travel more freely”

 

Odessa…

CAMPAIGN and LEGE TREND. No Tollroads without Voter Approval Per Project. WHO. WHAT. WHERE.

WHO:  Michael Quinn Sullivan

WHAT:  Pushing local activists for primary election question on voter approval for toll roads, adding voter approval for tolls to the State GOP Party Platform, and calling for legislation

WHERE: Texas local GOP party activist, state GOP party, and Texas Legislature

Empower Texas | No Tolls without Voter Approval 

Campaign TREND. Propose Ride Share Fees to Fund Transportation. Who.What.Where.How.

Who: State Senate candidate Ryan O’Donnell

Where: New Hampshire (inspired by a 67 cent fee on ride share in Chicago)

What: A 30-50 cent fee on all ride share rides

How: The ride share fee would fund regional transit authorities for public transportation

Daily Hampshire Gazette | O’Donnell: Help public transportation with fee on ride-hailing companies

Texas Attorney General Opinion Request: Port Authority. Hiring Resigned Congressman.

Background:

  • Calhoun Port Authority wants to know about whether it hired Blake Farenthold illegally.
  • Independently, Calhoun Port Authority is being sued for violating the Open Meetings Act in the hiring

What’s the question for the Attorney General? Whether the hiring of Farenthold, as a lobbyist, erquired posting that the hiring was specific to services as a lobbyist

What’s the brouhaha over the Open Meetings Act? Those who say the Act was violated say there was no posting for the hiring of…

Lege Trend. State Increases Gas Tax. Initiative & Referendum to Stop the Tax Increase. The Where. The What. The How.

Where: California

What: California Legislature passed a gas tax increase 

How is the inititiative and referendum moving to repeal the gas tax?

  • California’s Congressional Delegation is Supporting the initiative & referendum by Give Voters a Voice
  • State Republican party strategists fear conservative voters will stay home if the open primary doesn’t qualify a conservative candidate for the general election

Sacramento Bee | Gas tax repeal gets more cash from California GOP