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A6 U.S. NEWS
Thursday 4 OcTOber 2018
California gas tax repeal campaign seeks federal inquiry

By SOPHIA BOLLAG and DeMaio also points to a
JONATHAN J. COOPER Sept. 25, 2017, email sent
Associated Press by Kate Breen, the gov-
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) ernment affairs director for
— Leaders of a campaign the San Francisco Munici-
to repeal California’s re- pal Transit Agency, to col-
cent gas tax increase leagues, in which she sum-
asked the federal govern- marizes the progress of ef-
ment this week to investi- forts to repeal SB1.
gate their claims that pub- Proposition 6 proponents
lic resources have been say the email indicates the
used against them. transit agency was interest-
Their allegations are based ed in influencing the cam-
on emails and other docu- paign. It’s not clear what
ments that appear to show efforts the agency did to
local government workers promote the gas tax. The
discussing the repeal ef- email was sent before the
fort, known as Proposition measure qualified for the
6. In one, a San Francisco ballot but after the cam-
official says in an email that paign had filed paperwork
showing how gas tax funds In this July 11, 2018 file photo, workers repave a street in Roseville, Calif., partially funded by a gas to begin collecting signa-
benefit the city is important tax hike passed by the Legislature in 2017. tures.
“to support the anti-repeal Associated Press “The proposition hadn’t
campaign.” voters about how damag- ment of Transportation said sit Agency asks an organi- even qualified for the state-
“It’s damning, it’s unac- ing Prop 6 will be to the Wednesday it will not in- zation it contracts with to wide ballot,” Paul Rose, the
ceptable,” Proposition 6 safety of our roads and clude the website address help with its “educational transit agency’s spokes-
campaign leader Carl De- bridges.” on future signs after fed- campaign” that “related man, said in an email.
Maio said Tuesday. “They A law called SB1 , passed eral officials said it may not to the gas tax repeal.” “There was no campaign
are using taxpayer dollars by California lawmakers, comply with rules that aim Devra Selenis, a spokes- to work for or against. Since
to influence an election.” raised gasoline taxes by 12 to ensure road signs are woman for the agency, that time the measure
Republican Congressman cents a gallon starting last easy to read, department said the agency has never has become real and we
Ken Calvert requested an November and diesel taxes spokesman Matt Rocco told people how to vote. have been very careful not
investigation by the U.S. by 20 cents. Diesel sales said. The change will not On behalf of RT, the con- to advocate as a public
Department of Transpor- taxes also rose, and drivers affect the cost, Rocco said. tractor, Valley Vision, orga- agency.”
tation’s inspector gen- are paying a new annual DeMaio highlighted a news nized a community event In another email released
eral, saying some of the fee with their vehicle regis- story about the signs’ pos- where various groups high- by the Proposition 6 cam-
agencies involved receive tration, ranging from $25 to sible non-compliance as lighted the benefits of SB1, paign, the California Tran-
some federal money. De $175 depending on the val- further evidence of wrong- she said. sit Association, a lobbying
Maio said he obtained the ue of the vehicle. The taxes doing. “We are allowed to edu- organization, sent a plan
emails through public re- and fees all rise each year, Proposition 6 would repeal cate on benefits of what to local government agen-
cords requests and that he based on inflation. the tax and fee increases SB1 covers and that’s all cies outlining campaigning
also plans to file complaints It’s projected to increase and also require voter ap- we’ve ever done,” Sele- plans to oppose SB1 repeal.
with local district attorneys. about $5 billion a year to proval for any future in- nis said. “That is the pub- It’s not clear from the doc-
He held a press conference address a backlog of de- creases in gas taxes or vehi- lic’s right to know what we uments if any of the gov-
Wednesday outlining the ferred maintenance on cle fees. Opponents of the spend money on.” ernment agencies copied
charges. state and local roadways. ballot measure say the tax The Proposition 6 cam- on the email acted on the
A spokeswoman for the an- The California Department increase benefits the state paign alleges the emails plan laid out by the asso-
ti-Proposition 6 campaign of Transportation highlights and is needed to repair the show an attempt to influ- ciation.
denied improper behavior. projects funded by the tax state’s crumbling roads. ence the outcome of the The October 2017 email
“The No on Prop 6 cam- increase on signs around In one email exchange ballot measure because describes efforts to per-
paign follows all campaign the state that include an from June, a few days be- the education campaign suade vulnerable Republi-
laws,” Robin Swanson said address to a website outlin- fore Proposition 6 officially is scheduled through the can members of Congress
in a statement. “We’re ing how SB1 money is spent. qualified for the ballot, the election and is “related to to avoid backing Proposi-
working hard to educate The California Depart- Sacramento Regional Tran- the gas tax repeal.” tion 6.q

ATF: Hundreds of guns stolen in Memphis seized near Chicago

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — activity in the southern Chi- were taken by two men in Turnbo was arrested hours es federal charges of being
Most of the roughly 400 cago suburb of Midlothian a U-Haul truck. ATF spokes- later and faces federal a convicted felon illegally
guns that were stolen from on Sunday afternoon — man Michael Knight said charges of possessing sto- possessing firearms.
a United Parcel Service about 12 hours after the the truck was recovered len firearms. Court docu- Court documents indicat-
facility in Tennessee have guns were taken from a along with the guns. ments said he denied tak- ed that Turnbo told investi-
been recovered in the Chi- UPS facility in Memphis, a Court documents said ing part in the theft at the gators he and Jackson had
cago area, federal authori- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobac- officers found the truck UPS facility. sold at least three of the
ties said. co, Firearms and Explosives at a store parking lot in On Wednesday, the ATF an- guns for a total of $400.
Authorities seized about agent said in court docu- Midlothian and questioned nounced that Jackson had The estimate of 400 stolen
365 Ruger .22-caliber and ments Tuesday. 24-year-old Roland Jackson been taken into custody. firearms makes it one of
.380-caliber firearms after ATF had said the guns be- of Chicago and 18-year- A spokeswoman declined the largest single gun thefts
police officers responded ing shipped from a Ruger old Taveyan Turnbo before to say where and when he the ATF has investigated,
to a call about suspicious factory in North Carolina they both ran away. was arrested. Jackson fac- Knight said.q