In this still from video provided by the No on 30 campaign, California Gov. Gavin Newsom urges voters to reject Proposition 30. The ballot measure would raise taxes on people making more than $2 million a year. Most of the money from the tax would go to programs that help people buy electric cars. The proposal is sponsored by ride-hailing company Lyft. (No on 30 Campaign via AP)AP California Gov. Gavin Newsom is cutting ads in opposition to Nov. 30’s Proposition 30, a tax increase on high-income earners that would pay for more electric vehicles. The Prop. 30 raises income taxes 1.75% on people making $2 million or more. In a 30-second TV ad released Monday, Newsom calls Prop. 30 “Trojan Horse” and “a company’s cynical plan to grab a huge taxpayer-funded subsidy.” The company in question is San Francisco-based Lyft, which is facing a state requirement that the majority of its fleet be electric vehicles by 2030. Lyft, seeking government help in meeting that requirement, has spend $15 million to support the measure. “It was invented by a single company to funnel state income taxes to their company’s benefit,” Newsom says in the ad. “Simply put, Prop. 30 is a Trojan horse that puts corporate welfare ahead of the fiscal welfare of our entire state.” #Exclusive look at @GavinNewsom’s state TV ad AGAINST CA’s #Proposition30. The plan would raise taxes by 1.75% on those earning more than $2 million and devote the $ to subsidies for zero-emission vehicles and wildfire suppression Newsom calls it a “Trojan horse” and “corporate welfare” pic.twitter.com/1WYad5kSWT — Elex Michaelson (@Elex_Michaelson) September 12, 2022 Newsom’s stance on Prop. 30 puts him at odds with the California Democratic Party, which has supported the measure, along with several environmental groups. The California Republican Party and the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the bill. “It is disappointing that the Governor is siding with the California Republican Party and a handful of San Francisco billionaires who would rather children breathe toxic, polluted air than pay their fair share,” the yes campaign said in a statement to the Associated Press. . An internal poll by the No campaign found that opposition to the measure rose from 31 percent to 62 percent when voters were informed of Newsom’s stance. Eric Ting is SFGATE’s political editor. He is an East Bay native and has a master’s degree in journalism from Stanford University. Eric received his undergraduate degree from Pomona College, where he majored in politics and economics. Email: [email protected]
