(TheLibertyRevolution.com)- California Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom is urging residents of the state not to vote for a proposition that would increase taxes on the rich, calling it a “trojan horse” that would actually benefit the rideshare company Lyft, according to the Daily Caller.
Proposition 30 is a ballot proposition that would increases taxes on those making more than $2 million a year by an additional 1.75% to help the state pay for its electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure. The advertisement showing Newsom warn Californians also said that the proposition was a “trojan horse” that is using the climate as a disguise to benefit Lyft.
“Prop 30 is a trojan horse that puts corporate welfare above the fiscal welfare of our entire state,” Newsom stated in the advertisement. “It was devised by a single corporation to funnel state income taxes to benefit their company.”
The ad does not explicitly name Lyft but includes several headlines that links Lyft’s connection to the proposition. Because Lyft independently contracts its drivers, the tax revenue from Proposition 30 can be used to help its drivers for new electric vehicles.
“Prop 30 speeds up a clean energy transition by asking only the wealthiest 0.2% to pay a little more, so the costs don’t fall on working Californians,” a Lyft spokesperson told the Daily Caller News Foundation. “We’re standing with the American Lung Association, state firefighters, climate advocates and others in doing something about climate problems, while Governor Newsom stands with his billionaire donors looking to protect their bank accounts.”
Lyft also contributed $15 million to help promote the proposition as they must ensure that they are compliant with a new rule implemented by the left-wing state that requires vehicles in the state to be electric by 2030.
California will ban gas-powered vehicle sales by 2035 and is investing $10 billion over the years to get more electric vehicles on the road. The tax from Proposition 30 could generate between $3.5 million and $5 million of revenue annually, according to an estimate by the Legislative Analyst’s Office.