News

Gas tax repeal proponents offer chance for free gas card in Indio

Published November 5, 2018 5:00 PM

Traffic along Jefferson Street in Indio is backing up near the Arco gas station as drivers line up to take part in a promotion, many of them expecting a free tank of gas.

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JeremyChenKESQ/status/1059464415974576128″,”author_name”:”Jeremy Chen”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JeremyChenKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;The line outside Arco for a chance at free gas is quite something. Still about 45 minutes to go and the line has backed up to the next intersection at least. &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/KESQ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;@KESQ&#lt;/a&#gt; &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/QTvmovZ8ZY”&#gt;pic.twitter.com/QTvmovZ8ZY&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChenKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JeremyChenKESQ/status/1059464415974576128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;November 5, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

Organizers behind a ballot measure aimed at repealing the state’s fuel tax will be offering a chance to win a gas card at select California gas stations on Monday, including one location in Indio.

Between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. Monday, up to 1,000 drivers who pull into the Arco station at 42334 Jefferson St. can pledge to “to support Prop 6” and then will be entered into a statewide drawing for a chance to score a $50 gas card.

The Arco in Indio was charging $3.35 for a gallon of regular unleaded on Monday.

The promotion is part of the “Yes on Proposition 6” campaign’s final pre-Election Day push.

{“url”:”https://twitter.com/JeremyChenKESQ/status/1059478098251411459″,”author_name”:”Jeremy Chen”,”author_url”:”https://twitter.com/JeremyChenKESQ”,”html”:”&#lt;blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”&#gt;&#lt;p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”&#gt;&#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Indio?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;#Indio&#lt;/a&#gt; Police on scene directing traffic. No free gas giveaway at the Arco on Jefferson. People will have a chance to get free gas by signing up with the Yes on 6 Campaign. 1000 $50 gas card will be given out statewide to every 50th person that signs up statewide. &#lt;a href=”https://t.co/zeTeljBV9C”&#gt;pic.twitter.com/zeTeljBV9C&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/p&#gt;– Jeremy Chen (@JeremyChenKESQ) &#lt;a href=”https://twitter.com/JeremyChenKESQ/status/1059478098251411459?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”&#gt;November 5, 2018&#lt;/a&#gt;&#lt;/blockquote&#gt;n&#lt;script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″&#gt;&#lt;/script&#gt;n”,”width”:550,”height”:null,”type”:”rich”,”cache_age”:”3153600000″,”provider_name”:”Twitter”,”provider_url”:”https://twitter.com”,”version”:”1.0″}

Full information on the gas promotion is available by clicking here.

The measure would repeal 2017’s Road Repair and Accountability Act, which raised fuel taxes statewide to generate funding for road repairs, traffic safety and public transit.

Prop 6 proponents allege that the tax has unduly burdened middle and working-class families, while opponents say repealing the tax would eliminate funding for thousands of transportation projects and eliminate jobs connected with those projects.

Prop 6 organizer Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego councilman and radio show host, said: “The free gas we’re giving out (Monday) is the best kind of relief for struggling working families, but everyone can get relief by voting Yes on Prop 6 to repeal the unfair and costly gas and car tax hikes that are
hurting California working families every day of the year.”

GAS GAUGE: Find low-prices on gas throughout the Coachella Valley

The Yes on 6 campaign conducted a similar event earlier this year at nearly a dozen Coachella Valley gas stations, which dropped their prices to $1.99 per gallon during the one-day promotion.

Supporters of a ‘No” vote on Prop 6 cite the need for ongoing road improvement projects the gas tax pays for. Opponents of repeal say the funding is behind projects in the Coachella Valley that include the bridge replacement at Jefferson Street and the I-10 interchange, just a short drive from the Arco gas station.

“It is illegal to offer anything of value for a pledge to vote, and our campaign will be taking legal action to address this desperate stunt. More importantly, voters need to know that Prop 6 is a dangerous measure that eliminates $5 billion in funding for California’s crumbling roads and bridges,” Robin Swanson, spokesperson for No on Prop 6, said in a statement.

READ: Breaking down Prop 6

For more on both sides of the issue, see the No on Prop 6 and Vote Yes on Prop 6 websites.