Statement by Emily Rusch, CALPIRG State Director, in response to the ruling:
The court case victory halting the
legislature's raid on public transit funds indicates how lost
Californians' priorities become in Sacramento's budget mess. To cut
traffic congestion and harmful pollution, California needs more
public transportation. Recent ballot measure victories highlight that
voters are willing to pay higher taxes to build it.
Furthermore,
there are solutions to balance the budget and pay for public
transportation, including taxing oil companies, just like Texas,
Alaska already do. But to date Sacramento has chosen to protect the
oil companies and punish transit riders.
Governor
Schwarzenegger should support a budget that taxes oil companies to
help pay for public transportation and other needs. Fellow Republican
Gov. Sarah Palin does it. So should California.
CALPIRG submitted an amicus brief to the courts in support of the California Transit Association's arguments for funding public transportation.
