California's gas tax hike shows governor's political skill

Using a mix of public pressure, private arm-twisting, a late-night meeting at the governor's mansion and nearly $1 billion of pork, Brown showed the political acumen that's made him California's longest-serving chief executive.

Brown, who typically prefers to politick in private, was a very public campaigner for the deal he negotiated with fellow Democratic legislative leaders.

The tax hike, projected to raise more than $5 billion a year from higher gas taxes and vehicle registration fees, cleared the Legislature on Thursday night without a single vote to spare for the two-thirds majority required for tax increases.

Thad Kousser, chair of the political science department at University of California, San Diego, said Brown and his legislative partners— Senate leader Kevin de Leon and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon — cleared a higher hurdle by winning passage for a much broader tax package.

The money, more than $52 billion over the next 10 years, will pay for repairs to state highways and local streets, along with improvements to bridges, public transit, and biking and walking trails.

The decision to ask lawmakers for a tax hike is a departure from Brown's promise in 2010, when he pledged not to raise taxes without a vote of the people.

The governor called lawmakers into special session in 2015 to deal with roads, but after on-again, off-again talks, they walked away at the end of last year's legislative session, pledging to try again after the 2016 election.