The Los Angeles Times of April 6, 2017, reported, under the headline: “Divided Senate approves gas tax and vehicle fee increases to raise $5.2 billion annually for road repairs.”

The plan was forcefully pushed by Gov. Jerry Brown as a necessary response to 23 years without a gas tax increase, which has resulted in a backlog of $130 billion in repair and replacement projects throughout the state.

The governor and legislative leaders ended up giving nearly $1 billion to specific transportation projects in the districts of legislators who had been on the fence before voting for Senate Bill 1.

Appropriations should be in broad categories, not identified to specific districts or Legislators. The Congress abolished earmarks; the California State Legislature should do the same.