Vulnerable Republican breaks with Trump on tax

Rep. Mimi Walters (R-Irvine), whose seat is vulnerable in this year’s midterm election, broke with President Trump over his desire to raise the national gas tax to pay for infrastructure, responding critically to a report that Trump is pitching a 25-cent gas tax increase.

The topic has particular weight in California, where there’s an effort to put a proposition repealing the state’s new fuel taxes and vehicle fees on the 2018 ballot, something that could boost GOP turnout. Walters’ campaign has contributed $25,000 to the state repeal effort.