http://www.mercurynews.com/traffic/ci_23563585/state-gas-tax-rises-3-5-cents-monday
California wants people to drive less, use less gas, and be more energy efficient. But they are in an unholy alliance:
“Taxable sales of gas in California have fallen from 15.9 billion gallons in 2006 to 14.6 billion gallons last year, a result of the recession and vehicles that get better mileage. That translated to a $157 million shortfall in [tax] revenue last year.”