California IN BRIEF : SACRAMENTO : Prop. 111 Campaign Picks Up Funding

Contributions to a campaign to hike the state gasoline tax have increased dramatically in the last week, Gov. George Deukmejian reported. Deukmejian, who is heading the effort, said the campaign collected $600,000 in a single day. “Our fund raising is now beginning to pick up, which is very encouraging,” he said. Only a few weeks ago supporters of Proposition 111, which calls for a 9-cent-a-gallon tax increase, were openly voicing fears that they would not be able to reach their fund-raising goal of $5 million by the June 5 election. At the end of March, campaign reports showed they had collected $1 million. But on Wednesday, campaign treasurer Tom Hiltach said the total has now risen to $2.2 million. Deukmejian said the campaign will begin airing advertisements on radio next week.