State's gas tax goes up today
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The gas tax increase was included in a transportation bill that became law in late February after lawmakers overrode a veto by Governor Tim Pawlenty.
It was the first time one of Gov. Pawlenty's vetoes had ever been overridden.
As a result of the vote, the state's gas tax will go up 5.5 cents as a way to raise more than $6 billion for road and bridge construction.
That 5.5 cents is coming in stages, however.
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April first marks the first increase of two cents. The entire increase will be in place by October.
Governor Pawlenty's said the override had started a taxpayer revolt that would end on Election Day, but for some it hasn't even taken that long.
The override needed a handful of Republican votes to succeed, and some of those Republicans have since lost their party endorsements, another dropped out of her re-election race altogether.
Supporters say the higher gas tax will raise much needed money to fix aging roads and bridges.
