Here’s a tax increase that’s winning strong support – from the Idaho House, no less. The House just voted 51-16 in favor of HB 359, to increase the fuel tax on aviation gasoline and jet fuel by 1.5 cents per gallon. But there’s a reason: That tax hasn’t been increased since 1991, it’s only 5.5 cents a gallon now for aviation gasoline and 4.5 cents for jet fuel, and it’s raising so little that various aviation support programs to Idaho airports have been eliminated for lack of funds. (Idaho’s gas tax for regular gasoline is 25 cents a gallon.) The increase would raise $429,000 a year more for the state Aeronautics Fund and allow the discontinued services to be restored.

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