More Californians support ending construction on the project than support continuing it.

At your request: This week's California Commentary by Jon Coupal
View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed] Share ([link removed])
[link removed]: https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redlandsdailyfacts.com%2F2021%2F10%2F03%2Ffalling-support-for-the-bullet-train%2F Tweet ([link removed]: https%3A%2F%2Fwww.redlandsdailyfacts.com%2F2021%2F10%2F03%2Ffalling-support-for-the-bullet-train%2F)
[link removed] Forward ([link removed])
[link removed]

[link removed]


** California Commentary
------------------------------------------------------------

You are receiving this email because you subscribed on the HJTA website, or you provided your address in response to direct mail. Please see the bottom of this message to unsubscribe.


** Falling support for the bullet train
------------------------------------------------------------

By Jon Coupal

High-speed rail advocates are on edge as the governor and the state legislature squabble over where to spend the high-speed rail project’s remaining bond money.

Advocates say the delays in funding are feeding into the notion that the project is taking too long and harming public support. They are right to be worried. A recent poll from Goodwin Simon Strategic Research showed that more Californians support ending construction on the project than support continuing it.

But advocates have it backwards. It isn’t the uncertainty in funding that is causing diminishing support, it’s that Californians are aware of the magnitude of the scam.

Let’s recap.

In 2008, voters approved almost $10 billion in general obligation bonds, including $9 billion for the initial planning and construction of an 800-mile high-speed rail system that would travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles in a little over two hours.

A 2008 study sponsored by the Reason Foundation and the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Foundation predicted that the promised total cost of $45 billion would quickly turn into $100 billion or more. “There are no genuine financial projections that indicate there will be sufficient funds,” the authors wrote.

However, the campaign for passage focused on the promise of that jaunt between Los Angeles and San Francisco, making the project look like a Ferrari at the cost of a used Ford Pinto.

To read the entire column, please click here ([link removed]) .
Click here to listen to this week's Howard Jarvis Podcast, "How Taxpayers Can Keep From Getting Soaked" ([link removed]) The Howard Jarvis Podcast features HJTA President Jon Coupal and VP of Communications Susan Shelley with a lively conversation that takes you inside California government in a way that's fun, interesting and sometimes scary. Check out all the recent podcasts by clicking here: [link removed] -- it's easy to listen on your cell phone, tablet or computer. Just click the "play" arrow next to the title. Questions for Jon and Susan? Email us at [email protected] and tune in!
A note to our valued members and supporters: To increase the reach of our message to as many Californians as possible, HJTA made an agreement with the Southern California News Group papers to carry Jon Coupal's weekly column. The newspapers in the group, including the Orange County Register and the Los Angeles Daily News, have added a paywall that allows only a limited number of page views per month, and then asks readers to become subscribers. HJTA is not marketing these subscriptions or receiving any payment from them. The columns are exclusive to SCNG's papers for one week and then are posted in full on HJTA's own website, www.hjta.org ([link removed]) , under "California Commentaries," where you can read them at your convenience, or read Jon's column online in all the SCNG papers at these links:
www.whittierdailynews.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.dailybulletin.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.sgvtribune.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.ocregister.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.pe.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.dailynews.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.pasadenastarnews.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.sbsun.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.dailybreeze.com/opinion ([link removed])
www.presstelegram.com/opinion ([link removed])
Jon Coupal is the President of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association (HJTA). He is a recognized expert in California fiscal affairs and has argued numerous tax cases before the courts.
HJTA is totally dependent on the voluntary support of California taxpayers.
Please consider a donation now to help us continue our work on your behalf.
[link removed]
[link removed]

============================================================
Don't Forget To Follow Us On Social Media
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Pinterest ([link removed])
** Pinterest ([link removed])

Copyright © 2021 Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association. All rights reserved.
621 S. Westmoreland Avenue, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90005

** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** update subscription preferences ([link removed])

This email was sent to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
why did I get this? ([link removed]) unsubscribe from this list ([link removed]) update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association . 621 South Westmoreland Avenue, Suite 200 . Los Angeles, CA 90005 . USA