The State Senate's top Democrat now wants to impose a new $1.8 billion "fee" on drivers. She says they need more money for roads, but how is it that California has the highest gas tax in the nation and can't keep roads in decent condition?

◼ Knee Jerk Tax Hikes - Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association

For the second time in as many weeks Californians got the news that Sacramento politicians are proposing yet another big tax hike. The truth is that new taxes would never be required were it not for Sacramento’s mismanagement of existing tax dollars.

Last week, it was the proposal to deal with the very real problem of “revenue volatility” in California’s tax structure with the very unreal “solution” of a $10 billion tax on services.

But the latest proposal comes from new Senate leader Toni Atkins who proposes a brand new tax on drivers to pay for highway and road repairs in California. This new “fee” would take $1.8 billion dollars out of the pockets of hard working California citizens over the next five years.

Now, most Californians would wholeheartedly agree that our roads are in terrible shape. Years of neglect have resulted in a highway system that, according to a recent state report, requires a massive infusion of $59 billion. But taxpayers have a very good question that has yet to be answered: How is it that California has the highest gas tax in the nation and yet cannot keep its roads in decent condition? KEEP READING