Why Republicans Are All In On The Gas Tax Repeal

LOS ANGELES, CA — With billions of dollars and the balance of power in Washington at stake, Proposition 6 is the measure that everyone is watching. Republicans hope it will motivate their base to head to the polls Nov. 6, pulling the lever for G.O.P. candidates up and down the ballot. It’s so important to Republicans’ hopes of keeping a U.S. House of Representatives majority that the national party is taking pains to fund it, and the gubernatorial candidate John Cox is making it a centerpiece of his campaign. So what is the measure, and why is it so important to the Republican Party?

Proposition 6 would repeal the gas tax known as the Road Repair and Accountability Act that California voters passed in 2017. The tax raises $52.4 billion between 2017 and 2027 through vehicle fees and by increasing the gas tax $0.12 per gallon and the diesel fuel tax $0.20 per gallon. The billions raised go toward road repairs and transportation improvements across the state. A vote for Prop. 6 eliminates the tax and defunds the transportation projects. Counties such as Los Angeles stand to lose roughly $1 billion a year in transportation funding. The measure would further require voter and legislative approval as well as the governor's signature to impose future fuel taxes or vehicle fees.

While support for the measure lagged early in the polls, it’s been surging steadily in the final weeks of the campaign. A SurveyUSA poll from mid-October finds 58 percent of voters in favor of the measure compared to 29 percent against. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll puts the contest much closer with 41 percent in support of the measure compared to 42 percent against.

The measure is one of few on the ballot palpably inspiring passion on the right. In a state where Democrats significantly outnumber Republicans during a Blue Wave election year, a measure that will drive Republicans to the polls is invaluable to the party. It’s so important to the Republican cause that Congressional leaders from Speaker of the House Paul Ryan to Kevin McCarthy and Mimi Walters have all donated heavily to the Yes on Prop 6 campaign.

"It will motivate turnout, and let's be very clear: Republicans have a turnout problem this year," Republican strategist Carl DeMaio told the Press-Enterprise, according to Ballotpedia.

Still, opposition to the measure has vastly out-fundraised the support. According to Ballotpedia, the opposition raised $32 million compared to just $4 million in support. The measure’s opponents are many. They include Gov. Jerry Brown, the Democratic Party, cities and counties up and down the state, transportation advocacy groups and organized labor.

"Republicans are deluding themselves if they think this is a silver bullet that will save them from the Trump-sized anchor weighing them down,” John Vigna, a spokesman for the California Democratic Party told the Los Angeles Times. “The condition of our infrastructure is an embarrassment that hurts the entire economy of the state, and Californians want it fixed."

Supporters include Cox, the California Republican Party, numerous Republican members of Congress and several Republican candidates.

Cox helped write the official ballot statement in favor the repeal, arguing, “California’s cost of living is skyrocketing and working families can barely keep up. The new gas and car tax hikes can cost a family of four more than $500 per year! That’s not pennies, that’s real money.”

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)