Repealing that gasoline tax was never even talked about at the time, it is part of what reduced the debt to zero with the Republican spending reductions(and closing of cold war military bases) . Dems take credit for it all now because of Bush/republicans later history.
The Dems take credit for it because they are shameless liars and because Clinton was in the WH. Spending was restrained only because the Republicans took control of Congress, but that doesn't stop the lying.