Burton Proposes $16 Billion in Bond Issues for Roads
SACRAMENTO — The state Senate’s leader on Wednesday proposed $16 billion in state bonds spread over several years and a majority vote threshold for local transportation taxes to fix California’s “screwed-up traffic.”
President Pro Tem John Burton (D-San Francisco) also said he would offer his own dual primary election plan to avoid the use of party caucuses or state conventions to pick presidential convention delegates.
Burton said he plans to introduce legislation that would put $4-billion bond measures on four consecutive November election ballots, starting in 2000, to raise money for transportation improvements.
In addition, Burton said, he will sponsor legislation to allow voters to approve local sales taxes for transportation programs by a simple majority instead of a two-thirds vote.
“There has been a great . . . to-do about the problems of transportation infrastructure investment and lack thereof within the state,” he said. “There is a conclusion that we may be $15 billion to $25 billion in need over the next 10 years.”
He said his proposals would go on the ballot for voters to rule on.
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