Proposition 6 supporters alleged Wednesday that Caltrans workers in San Diego County improperly stopped traffic and handed out fliers opposing the proposition, that would repeal the car and gas tax, to motorists.
Carl DeMaio, with Reform California and a former San Diego City Councilman, said he is filing a complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission over the actions of the state-hired contractors that he says violated state law.
“There is absolutely no grey area here,” DeMaio said in a statement. “Caltrans is caught in blatant violation of California law that prohibits the use of taxpayer funds for campaign activities or advocacy. This proves once again that Caltrans simply cannot be trusted to do what is right with our gas tax funds — they literally are using gas tax funds to support the distribution of campaign materials to raise the gas tax on working families.”
The improper activity allegedly took place on August 28th along State Highway 28 and involved private contractors supervised by a Caltrans employee in a truck bearing the agency’s logo.
Caltrans Director Laurie Berman said Wednesday that they are examining the allegations.
“Caltrans is looking into the matter but it is our understanding that these individuals were private contractors, not Caltrans employees,” Berman said in a statement. “Regardless, the Department does not condone political advocacy or the distribution of campaign information on work project sites and is contacting its contractors to remind them of this.”
Check out pictures from the traffic stop at gastaxrepeal.org here.
Photo: Getty Images