Op-ed: California’s Soaring Gas Taxes Aren’t Even Going to the Roads

Professor William F. Shughart II, of Utah State University, and Undergraduate Research Fellow Kristian Fors, of the Center for Growth and Opportunity, explain how “user fee” gas taxes in California are intended to support road and transportation maintenance, but instead have been re-allocated to unrelated spending programs. The authors point out that the tax also disproportionately affects the poor who spend more of their income on gas than those wealthy enough to avoid the gas tax by buying electric cars.

Read the full piece as it was published by the Foundation for Economic Education. This article was also featured by the Independent Institute.

CGO scholars and fellows frequently comment on a variety of topics for the popular press. The views expressed therein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Center for Growth and Opportunity or the views of Utah State University.