It's not a tax, it's a usage fee.  ;-)

Gas taxes are earmarked for transportation repair and improvements, which makes them okay.  Fees are okay, it's only taxes that are evil.  Or so the thinking goes these days.

I would say a tax meant to discourage consumption or fund alternative energy, rather than pay for highways, is a new tax, not an increase in the current one.

And it's not being 'raised' it is being 'adjusted' ;)