The US Senate maybe a concern, but so are the State houses. Maryland is anticipating a $1.5 billion shortfall in fiscal year 2008 (12 months ending 6/30/2008), and therefore to reduce this they are looking to increase their already high gas taxes to new levels. Knowing that people have to have gas to get to work and play, it is a great source of new money. They can't raise cig taxes and sales taxes as effectively cause people will just quit buying and taxes will fall. If they raise income taxes, they may get voted out of office. But gas taxes are always fair game. They'll say they need the money to fix the potholes.