State Sen. Brian Jones: Prop 4 misleads voters on environmental “infrastructure” and serves Wall Street better than the planet

What to do after blowing a $100 billion surplus? Borrow another $10 billion for the “climate,” it seems. In his commentary for CalMatters, Senator Brian Jones questions the seriousness of the State’s environmental mission, not only when it had the cash on hand, but now when it’s deeply in debt—Prop 4 asks voters to pay for pop-up tents at farmers’ markets and galleries at zoos. Is that worth taking out another high-interest loan?

In February, California already had $79 billion in bond debt. Earlier this year, Proposition 1 added another $6.4 billion. Now, we’re being asked to shoulder another $10 billion, plus interest, this time for supposed climate programs that are vaguely defined and, in some cases, dubiously labeled.

… Prop. 4 will spend millions on so-called “infrastructure” for farmers’ markets — things like pop-up tents, restrooms and hand-washing stations. It will also fund “workforce development” to help “mitigate unemployment,” which of course, is completely unrelated to infrastructure and climate. To top it off, the bond also includes grants for exhibit galleries at zoos and museums, and even vanpool vehicles for low-income workers.

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In 2014, California voters passed a bond measure that would provide billions of dollars specifically for water storage projects. Nearly a decade has passed, and despite all that funding, not a single drop of water has been stored. The promises made to voters have gone unfulfilled, leaving many to wonder why Democrat politicians are asking for even more funding now with Prop. 4. If they can’t deliver on their commitments from a decade ago, why should taxpayers believe that another loan will result in anything meaningful?

Bonds come with long-term financial burdens that eventually can cut into essential public services. Gov. Gavin Newsom has already declared a budget emergency due to the state’s spending outpacing revenue. California also faces a $56 billion deficit, and the addition of Prop. 4’s bond debt would only worsen the situation.

What’s even more frustrating is that just two years ago, California had a nearly $100 billion budget surplus. Had these climate projects truly been a priority, the state could have used a mere 10% of that surplus to fund all the programs in this bond. Instead, due to poor financial management, voters are now being asked to approve borrowing money — with interest — when these programs could have been funded with cash in hand.

Read the whole thing here.

Related:

• Newsom’s pseudo surplus meant to distract from billions in debt

• Upcoming local tax tsunami may be prompting updated tax revolt, says expert

• Conservatives champion environmental stewardship, despite Left’s incessant “exploiter” labeling

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