Final answer:
The gas tax passed by the state legislature in 2017 was likely a measure to provide funding for transportation projects, reflecting states' efforts to manage their own infrastructure needs and resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
The gas tax passed by the state legislature in 2017 is an example of how states can generate revenue to fund transportation infrastructure projects such as building additional roadways to ease congestion. Taxes on gasoline are often used to support these efforts. In the context provided, there was a specific mention of a gas station showing fuel prices over $3.00 a gallon in 2005, which suggests times when fluctuating fuel prices can impact the economy and necessitate taxation measures like a gas tax.
The passage indicates that states have implemented gasoline taxes to help finance massive construction efforts, and that they can be considered regressive taxes because they are based on the quantity purchased rather than the payer's ability to pay.