Hahn Attempts to Rewrite History of Proposition O

Call it Proposition Uh Oh. Just days before the election, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn has come out in support of an oil tax that she proposed, but later voted against when it came time to put the issue before the voters.

Proposition O is a proposed tax that would charge companies $1.44 per barrel of oil they extract from the ground. It would generate an estimated $4.17 million a year. When the city council was looking at measures to place on the ballot, Hahn introduced Proposition O. However, on the day the council was to vote and place it on the ballot, Hahn tried to kill the matter.

At that time, on Nov. 17, Hahn said: “I’ve reconsidered this and I have heard from various business groups who do feel like this might be the wrong climate to put this on the ballot. We know the oil companies are probably going to mount a massive campaign to defeat this and at the end of the day, the way we’ve structured it, really would only generate around $2 million to the city of Los Angeles. So, at this time, it is my recommendation that we don’t put this forward on the ballot.”

Her colleagues disagreed and Hahn ended up being the only council member to vote against Proposition O.

The episode was revived today when Hahn released a statement in support of the tax.

“I’ve always supported an oil extraction tax, and I continue to support it. In fact, during my recent campaign for lieutenant governor, I proposed a statewide oil extraction fee to help fund higher education,” Hahn said. “I support Measure O. I proposed Measure O. I will vote for Measure O. I hope Measure O passes.”

Quibbling with the past, Hahn went on to say that her no vote was out of an abundance of concern regarding voter turnout.

“I supported placing Measure O on a regular election ballot where turnout and participation is higher and it would have a greater likelihood of passing. I opposed placing it on the March ballot because turnout is substantially lower and less representative of the electorate as a whole,” Hahn said.

A review of the Nov. 17 council meeting shows there was no mention of voter turnout in regards to the oil tax.

Proposition Oy Vey will be on Tuesday’s ballot.