SACRAMENTO – George Runner today issued the following statement regarding a 3.5 cent increase in California’s excise tax on gasoline scheduled to take effect July 1, 2013:

“On July 1 Californians will be forced to begin paying the highest gas taxes in the nation. They have a right to be angry and demand explanation from their elected officials.

“I too am upset and frustrated by this tax increase, which stems from a complicated law known as the ‘fuel tax swap.’

“The goal of the fuel tax swap wasn’t good tax policy. Instead, its sole purpose was to allow the Legislature to move more than a billion dollars in gas tax revenues into the state’s General Fund.

“I voted against the fuel tax swap. I also voted against the 3.5 cent rate increase that takes effect July 1.

“Although the Board of Equalization must implement the law as written, a certain amount of discretion comes into play. Most of the July 1 increase is based on uncertain projections of future gas prices.

“I don’t think we should be in the business of raising taxes based on guesswork.”

Elected in November 2010, George Runner represents more than nine million Californians as a member of the State Board of Equalization. For more information, visit www.boe.ca.gov/Runner.

A video of Runner questioning and voting ‘no’ on the gas tax hike is available at http://youtu.be/RWc1KzjMI4A