A little more than a year ago, Gov. Jerry Brown was touting an outbreak of bipartisanship in the Capitol. Lawmakers from both parties backed crucial deals on water and state finances — “a high point in our work together,” the governor said.
That spirit has been absent as Brown has struggled to find a deal on funding for much-needed road repairs across the state. Democrats and Republicans alike want to fix California’s dilapidated streets, highways and bridges, but there’s not enough support for the higher taxes the governor wants to pay for it.
“There’s a lot of political rust that has to be chipped away,” said Sen. Jim Beall (D-San Jose), co-chair of a committee working on the issue.
Common ground appeared elusive when lawmakers held a hearing last week in hopes of getting negotiations back on track, part of a special session that has stretched into the Legislature’s fall recess.
Brian Kelly, a top administration transportation official, presented the same plan at the hearing that Brown proposed last month: $3.6 billion in annual funding, mostly from a new fee on drivers and higher taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel.
Republicans seemed no more interested in supporting the idea than they were before.
“It needs to be a bipartisan approach,” Sen. Anthony Cannella (R-Ceres) said. “What you presented is not necessarily a bipartisan approach.”
Taxes and fees can’t be raised by the Legislature without Republican support because such measures require a two-thirds vote. But the GOP’s unified opposition to more taxes has been a point of pride for a party that rarely has enough muscle to make its mark in Sacramento. Administration officials estimate that $59 billion is needed for state roads, and local officials say an additional $78 billion is required for cities and counties. The longer it takes to reach a deal, the bigger the price tag will be.
Over the summer, Brown called a special session on roads to focus lawmakers’ attention on the issue. In August, when pressed on how he planned to forge a funding deal, he cited his successful work on a $7.5-billion water bond last year.
“This particular approach of mine” — allowing potential solutions to bubble up from the Legislature before helping to get an agreement across the finish line — “has worked in the past,” the governor said. Brown struck an optimistic tone last month. “The roads are going to get fixed. People are going to spend the money,” he told reporters. “Whether it takes a week, a month, a year or two, ultimately the powers that be … [are] going to up the pressure. It’s just a question of when.”
Some fear the window of opportunity is closing.
If there’s no vote before January, said DeAnn Baker, legislative director for the California State Assn. of Counties, “we’re into an election year, and that could make it all the more difficult.”
Advocates are thinking about other ways to get the money for roads. One option is having the Legislature ask voters for the higher taxes, rather than pass them outright. “We should always leave our options open,” said Cesar Diaz, legislative and political director at the State Building and Construction Trades Council, a coalition of labor unions.
Putting the issue to voters could win over lawmakers such as Sen. Cathleen Galgiani (D-Stockton), who promised while campaigning for office that any tax hikes would need voter approval.
Another idea is a bond measure for other expenses that could free up money for road repairs. A campaign to get voters’ approval could be expensive. And a number of interest groups are already lining up support for other tax measures next year; a ballot crowded with propositions could turn off voters.
“It’s going to take some creativity,” said Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable.
http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-pol-sac-transportation-legislature-20151018-story.html