What is the gas tax?

Posted September 24, 2018 10:00:14 The California gas tax has been a fixture of the state’s budget for years.

And its one of the few tax breaks that has survived a court challenge from oil and gas companies, which contend the gas price spike is a direct result of government spending.

But the California state legislature is set to take up a bill that would end the tax for the first time since 1997.

Gov.

Gavin Newsom is expected to sign it into law, according to a news release from the California Senate.

The measure would also eliminate a state sales tax on diesel fuel, and allow the state to phase out its electric vehicle tax.

Govs.

Jerry Brown and Gavin Newsor have previously promised to cut the tax in their first year in office.

In a statement, Newsom said he would “keep working toward an end to the gas taxes that are so critical to California’s economy.”

The gas tax, which is a combination of a gasoline tax and a diesel fuel tax, was raised in 1999 by then-Gov.

Jerry Sanders.

It’s been a favorite of the Democratic governor since.

The California Legislature passed it in 1995, and Gov.

Tom Kean vetoed it in 2000.