Maryland Governor to Push Lawmakers on Gas Tax Hike

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- Gov. Martin O'Malley knows his proposal to raise Maryland's gas tax is unpopular, but it may be a necessarily evil to invest in the state's infrastructure. And he will tell that to the state Senate Budget and Taxation Committee, and the House of Delegates Environmental Matters and Ways and Means Committees.

He is expected to testify before the committees today, March 14. However, lawmakers may not be too receptive to the idea, according to The Washington Post.

O'Malley's proposal calls for a 6-percent sales tax on gasoline phased in over three years. All total, the increase is expected to add approximately $613 million to the state coffers annually. Maryland's gas tax is currently 23.5 cents per gallon. It has not been raised since 1992.

The proposed levy hike comes at a time when motorists everywhere are struggling with high gas prices. Today's national average is $3.81 for regular, $3.95 for mid and $4.08 for premium, according to the AAA Daily Fuel Gauge Report. That is an almost 30-cent increase over a month ago.

The average gas price in Maryland comes in slightly above the average: $3.82 for regular, $3.97 for mid and $4.10 for premium, according to the report.