The Associated Press reports today on the cozy relationship between the state transportation agency and the effort to stop Proposition 6, a bid to overturn a gas and diesel tax the legislature passed in April 2017.
The California State Transportation Agency and Sacramento-based PR firm, Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks organized news conferences and other efforts to promote legislation to raise the tax that funds road and bridge repairs. After Gov. Jerry Brown signed it, the agency and firm continued planning events and coordinating social media posts as opponents gathered signatures for repeal.
Three ethics experts interviewed by the AP said the emails raise concerns that the agency’s relationship with the firm was too close, but none saw a clear violation of campaign laws. Those laws prohibit the use of public resources for political campaigns.
