The ruling supermajority Democrat Party in Sacramento has made California the most expensive and difficult state to live in. While most of us can’t afford a fancy dinner at the French Laundry like Gavin Newsom—we all have to drive to get to work and run our lives. That’s why Sacramento Democrats’ assault on everyday commuters with the highest gas and car taxes in the nation defies logic, and it’s why I authored AB 2963 to provide some relief.
However, Democrats in Sacramento would rather spend over $4 billion to give illegal immigrants healthcare instead of providing you a break on your car taxes.
If enacted, AB 2963 would have reduced unfair vehicle registration fees for non-commercial pickup trucks, which many of my constituents in Assembly District 63 drive on a daily basis. It also would provide relief for drivers dealing with outrageous late registration fees from the DMV.
Whether it’s gas prices nearly two dollars higher than the national average, some of the highest car insurance rates in the US, or eye-popping annual vehicle registration fees, Democratic politicians have not been coy with their anti-car, anti-commuter agenda. They want you out of your car, living in a tiny apartment, next to a public transit stop. I do not intend to comply, and I suspect neither will most Californians.
Vehicle registration fees have become prohibitively expensive for drivers to keep up with when the annual bill comes due. California tacks on all sorts of fees and additional costs that can lead to a ballooning total that many are unable to pay. According to the Franchise Tax Board, approximately four million vehicle registration accounts become delinquent every year.
For those who end up in delinquency, late fees accumulate rapidly, often doubling the original amount due in short order. The current structure of late fees for vehicle registration is punitive and disproportionately affects owners of older and lower-value vehicles, causing excessive financial strain and cyclical delinquency as customers fall further behind each year. If you do fall behind, don’t expect your state to show mercy. Nearly 1.4 million Californians annually face wage garnishment to collect debt on behalf of the DMV for failing to pay their registrations.
It certainly sounds like these are the individuals we should consider lending a helping hand to, doesn’t it? A classic case of a broken system that isn’t working for the average Californian. I introduced my bill for precisely this reason. But was that good enough for Sacramento Democrats? Of course not. They said they would not even consider my bill because “the state” can’t afford the lost revenue. What about the taxpayer, who cares if they can afford it?
AB 2963 has the endorsement of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, the largest and most influential taxpayer watchdog in California that has fought tirelessly to establish and defend taxpayer protections such as Prop 13. Through their many legal victories and successful tax-reduction campaigns, HJTA has saved Californians more than $528 billion since 1978.
Their support emphasizes that AB 2963 offers tangible relief to Californians struggling in our increasingly unaffordable Golden State.
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Never mind that California can find billions in the state budget for universal healthcare and home loans for illegal immigrants and millions for Democrats’ pet projects. Suddenly, my Democrat colleagues care about a budget deficit that they’re still pretending is only $38 billion dollars (according to the non-partisan Legislative Analyst’s Office, that figure is more like $73 billion).
So what about the suffering Californian, already struggling to put food on their family’s table, who now faces wage garnishment to pay off their delinquent vehicle registration? Where is the compassion and empathy from Democrats in Sacramento who are denying that family this car tax relief?
We can afford to give Californians a break on their car taxes—it’s pennies compared to the billions Democrats are spending to give illegal immigrants health care. So long as Democrats control Sacramento, common sense solutions like AB 2963 will not pass—they’re too afraid to even give it a hearing! But elections have consequences and the People have the power to evict these politicians from Sacramento and support candidates who will work for you, not their special interests in Sacramento.
Bill Essayli was elected in 2022 to represent the 63rd State Assembly District, which includes the whole cities of Norco, Menifee, Lake Elsinore, and Canyon Lake, as well as portions of the cities of Eastvale, Riverside, and Corona. Assemblyman Essayli is a former federal prosecutor and Riverside County Deputy District Attorney. He is also a small business owner as partner at the estate planning law firm of Essayli & Brown LLP.
