I’m for raising it.

Two reasons:

1) Energy independence. Granted, this would be more effective if done at the national level, and if done as an imported oil tax (on oil and refined products from non-Nafta countries). If done that way, it would favor domestic consumption over foreign, while decreasing overall consumption as well.

2) User Fees. The gas tax is the closest thing we have to a user fee for the system of roads and bridges we drive on for “free”. Though the sales tax varies, the motor fuel tax hasn’t been raised in “forever”, but the cost of new roads/bridges has increased dramatically over the past decade, as has the cost of maintaining exisiting roads. We need literally hundreds of billions of dollars to upgrade our transportation system in this state. This is the place to start rasing this money. (as well as eliminating the part that is paid into the state general fund.)