New documents from California’s Department of Finance provide a closer look into Gov. Gavin Newsom’s push to send hundreds of dollars in debit cards to California car owners.
The budget bill documents shed light on who will not qualify for the money, including drivers who did not register their vehicles in California by April 6 of this year, and those who owe any fees, penalties or other requirements to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The governor is proposing transferring money from the general fund into a tax relief fund to send out the money, but doing that will require a two-thirds vote from the Legislature.
The bill also has a few blanks, likely because they will be negotiation points with the Legislature. Those blanks include the total cost of the program, total payment amounts and the cap on the value of vehicles eligible in the state.
Critics have pointed out that under the program, as proposed by the governor, an individual who owns a luxury vehicle and an electric car would be eligible for the money.
Another point of criticism is the bill would allow the rebate to be processed by the vendor of the governor’s choice with a no-bid contract.
Republicans said this is concerning.
“We’ve seen how that’s worked. That’s led to government waste. These contracts that have no oversight that’s a big red flag for me,” said Assembly Member James Gallagher, R-Yuba City.
Newsom’s proposal is one of several circulating through the State Capitol to try to offset rising gas prices. Others include a suspension of the gas tax and direct checks to California taxpayers.
Lawmakers are on spring break this week, and the governor gets back from his vacation on Tuesday. So, the possibility of any rebate hitting bank accounts is still, at the very least, weeks away.