Lawmakers Battle Over How Much To Tax Gas

Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are battling over whether citizens should pay even more for gas to help fund the state's transportation system. The legislature has approved a three-cent per gallon hike in the state's gas tax. But Governor Patrick says that's not enough to close a massive transportation funding gap, so he'd like to raise the gas tax by up to five more cents.  When he proposed that yesterday, he was quickly denounced by legislative leaders, who say it's unfair to taxpayers still weathering the economic downturn.

William M. Straus, State Representative and Chairman of the House Transportation Committee.