News & Issues piece on a 5 cents per gallon gasoline tax increase proposed by

News & Issues piece on a 5 cents per gallon gasoline tax increase proposed by Gov. Angus King and championed by Department of Transportation (DOT) Commissioner John Melrose. Maine\u27s current gas tax is one of the lowest in the country, but approval of the King-Melrose plan would put Maine near the middle of the scale by increasing the tax on regular fuel from 19 to 24 cents and on diesel from 20 to 25 cents. The new gas tax revenue would help boost transportation spending from $349 million in the current biennium to $430 million in 2000-2001. The Legislature\u27s Transportation Committee has heard numerous proposals for new revenues and Sen. Bill O\u27Gara, D-Westbrook, chairman of the committee, said debate on the proposals will begin next week