Hi, all.
This is for anyone who lives in—or know anyone who lives in—AD 73, which is Irvine, Costa Mesa, and the surrounding areas (district map here). It’s important, so please share to your networks.
Here’s why:
Asm Cottie Petrie-Norris, has more power than any other person to stop the big Utility Tax. She has until the end of the month to use that power. If she doesn't act by then, the bill to stop the big Utility Tax will die. Don't know if Assemblymember Petrie-Norris is your rep? Here is the Who is my rep link
If the bill (AB 1999) dies, millions of ratepayers will get hit with a $24/month tax next year. The tax will steadily increase along with rates. You will not be able to get out of the Utility Tax no matter what you do.
She needs to hear from the people she represents. Please call her office today and tell her to pass AB 1999 and stop the big Utility Tax. Her numbers are (916) 319-2073 or (949) 251-0074.
Here's a suggestion of what to say (if you leave a VM please make sure to leave your name and zip so they know you’re a constituent):
"My name is _____. I’m a constituent who lives in _____. Please ask the Assemblymember to schedule AB 1999 for a vote in her committee today. If she doesn’t do this by the end of the month, AB 1999 will die and we will all get charged a big Utility Tax that will increase our bills, which I can’t afford. She has a special responsibility because she is the chair of the committee. Please ask her to do right by her constituents and the people of California. Thanks."
Background:
Assemblymember Petrie-Norris is the Chair of the Assembly Utilities & Energy Committee. She decides what bills get heard in her committee and which don't. She has not scheduled AB 1999 for a vote in her committee yet. If she does not do so by the end of the month, the bill dies.
The CPUC has proposed charging most ratepayers a $24 utility tax starting next year, and utilities have said they intend to increase it to $70/month or more. That's in addition to rate increases.
AB 1999 would cap the Utility Tax at $10/month and prevent it from rising any more than inflation. To be clear, we'd rather there be no Utility Tax at all. But without AB 1999, the utility tax would be entirely out of control. More background
Thanks, all!
Jess
Will do. That tax would be terrible
I live in another district. Would it do any good to ask my Assembly person to advocate for scheduling a vote? Even if he's not on the committee? https://autl.assembly.ca.gov/members