Gov. Gray Davis today said he backed an idea being promoted by
local tech executives to make it easier for Californians to raise
taxes for transportation projects.
Speaking this morning to the Silicon Valley Manufacturing Group,
an umbrella group for high-tech employers, Davis said he supports
the concept of lowering the threshold for transportation tax
measures from two-thirds to 55 percent.
His remarks were a big boost for businesses, led by the
manufacturing group, pushing for a ballot measure as early as next
year to ease passage of what they call crucial transportation
taxes.
``I think the concept is a good one,'' Davis said. ``Every
Californian who's been in traffic understands the importance of
reducing congestion.''
Davis said he wanted to see the details of the ballot measure
before he formally endorses it, but his remarks come as welcome news
to the Valley Transportation Authority, which is mired in red ink
and may need a tax increase to bail it out.
The drive to lower the threshold for transportation taxes is
expected to trigger a fight with fiscal conservatives, including the
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association.