DFL: Let's raise the gas tax!

With "pain at the pump" gasoline prices, and oil and gas exploration and new refinery construction blocked by environmental extremists, Steve Kelley, Becky Lourey, and former candidate Kelly Doran have called for, what else, a gas tax increase.

Real estate developer Kelly Doran and state Sens. Steve Kelley and Becky Lourey all said they would push to expand coverage and reduce the costs of health care, a mounting problem for many businesses. All said they would accelerate state spending or "investment" on highways and mass transit, and all indicated they would likely approve a gasoline tax increase to relieve what one them called a "congestion tax" on businesses.

—"Three DFL candidates mostly agree at business forum," Star Tribune, February 9, 2006

According to the Gas Buddy Organization, Minnesotans pay a tax of 22 cents per gallon of unleaded gasoline to the State of Minnesota, and 18.4 cents per gallon to the federal government.