Assemblymember Irwin’s Statement on the Governor’s Transportation Infrastructure Bill

By Jacqui Irwin • Assemblymember

SACRAMENTO — “I’ve never before voted for a tax increase as an elected official. Unfortunately, the current state of our streets and roads is unacceptable. The longer we wait to address this problem, the more expensive it will be to fix it and the more damage it will do to our economy and our quality of life. The gas tax has not been raised since the 1990s and declining transportation revenue to maintain our current infrastructure is not adequate. The Governor’s proposal is spread out over multiple user fees and taxes and follows the pay-as-you-go principle. Through a constitutional amendment the funding can only be used for transportation improvements and repairs, and the package includes necessary reforms to the state bureaucracy. All cities in Ventura County will see their roads’ budgets double under this proposal. While this decision is very difficult, it is the only prudent way to ensure our transportation infrastructure does not continue to deteriorate.”

Assemblymember Irwin’s website: http://asmdc.org/irwin