We may need to pay gas tax for better roads

We pay 18.4 cents per gallon in federal gas tax and 20 cents per gallon in state gas tax. Some state politicians want to raise this by 8 to 10 cents per gallon. Gas tax has not been raised for years and our roads show it.

With the increased gas mileage of new cars and the hybrids and electric cars, gas sales have gone down and we know the politicians don't like that lost revenue. On the other hand, if we get better roads, 8 to 10 cents more per gallon is fine with me.

If you drive 12,000 miles a year and get 15 miles per gallon, you pay $160 in state tax and $147.20 in federal tax. All things considered, I don't think that's bad but with the current road conditions, it may be that we need to pay more.

I do have one question: What will they tax when we all have electric cars?

James G. Flanigan

Cedar Rapids