I just read that opinion piece link.
It just keeps talking about "advocates" and saying over and over that gas taxes don't pay for highways.
Never once says what does pay for highways.
And apparently Congress disagrees with what you guys are saying. They are saying that gas tax DOES pay for highways. And the "decades" since it was raised was 1993 by Pres. Bill Clinton.
Why does it need to be raised at all?
Because we are using less gas.
I'm not off base about this at all.
Unlike that opinion piece you guys linked to...I'm going to post a link telling you where the money does come from (gas tax):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_Trust_Fund
In the last few years, Congess has moved a few billion over from the "General Fund" (income tax revenue) to the Highway Trust Fund to keep it "solvent"