politicians sure don't miss a chance to frame a narrative to use propaganda to their benefit... and new outlets let them get away with it. Key issue? California governor decided to divert gas tax revenue to 'VIP lanes for Olympics' instead of getting them to the damn games early to prevent getting stuck in LA traffic

California Republicans voiced outrage this week over a plan to divert at least $18 million from the nation’s highest gas tax toward "VIP lanes" on expressways for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

"The repurposing of lanes isn't going to change the infrastructure at all. The infrastructure will be exactly the same when they're done as it was before they start – and gas tax money is intended for infrastructure improvements; new infrastructure; repairing infrastructure, and that’s not what they’re doing here," said state Sen. Roger Niello, of Carmichael.

California ranks 49th in cost-effectiveness and condition of highway infrastructure.

The "Games Route Network" the California Governor aims to set up mirrors what the United Kingdom did for London’s 2012 Olympics.

 "When we're talking about VIP lanes, we're not talking about stretch limos here. We're talking about being able to move teams and coaches and players and people who are participating in the Olympics from their home base to their venues efficiently throughout the LA basin."

(Then fix the damn roads, and since you can't do that, learn what it's like to be the rest of us, and leave a lot earlier to get where you're going in time, in spite of the damn traffic jams politicians won't find a way to prevent)

California Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones, R-San Diego, was not convinced.

"While Californians are being forced to pay even more at the gas pump on July 1, Democrat politicians are diverting those additional tax dollars to chauffeur Olympic elites around Los Angeles," he said.

"This is exactly what’s wrong with Sacramento," Jones said.

"Instead of fixing our roads or providing relief to struggling families, the wealthy political class finds new ways to reward insiders while working Californians foot the bill. They raise your gas prices so VIPs can ride free."

https://www.foxbusiness.com/politics/ca-lawmakers-outraged-plan-divert-gas-tax-revenue-vip-olympics-lanes