I tend to think the CW of gax tax politics isn't quite correct. I don't think increasing gas taxes would be super popular, but I don't think it would inspire the intense response that it would have years ago. The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents per gallon. A gallon of gas is, what, about $3.60 now (no I don't drive much)? Add ten cents to the gas tax - a huge increase in percentage terms for the tax itself - and the gas price goes up to... $3.70.
