SACRAMENTO – Senator Ted Gaines (R-Roseville) today issued a statement regarding the newest version of Senate Bill x1 7, which amends the fire tax to drastically increase costs.

“This is just as illegal as the first fire tax but this time they’ve taken off the gloves and really socked it to rural Californians. This is clearly double taxation and it is being dumped on the backs of the people when the state has 12-percent unemployment and families are struggling just to make ends meet.

I will fight this in every way possible- as a legislator and as a private citizen- and want everyone who might get stuck paying this phony fee to get in the arena and fight it too.”

Senator Ted Gaines represents the 1st Senate District, which includes all or parts of Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, El Dorado, Lassen, Modoc, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Plumas, Sacramento and Sierra counties.