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The drive to raise Louisiana’s gasoline tax has suddenly flickered to life, but backers now face the daunting task of rounding up a two-thirds majority in the state House amid anti-tax cries inside and outside the Legislature.

Opening a late session controversy, a House panel May 16 approved a bill that would raise Louisiana's gasoline tax by 17 cents per gallon, increasing state aid for roads and bridges by $510 million annually.

Backers of a state gasoline-tax increase need something of a political miracle, and the first test is set for May 16 in a Louisiana House committee that has been killing tax bills.

Along with increasing its diesel tax by 10 cents, Indiana recently approved a 10-cent increase to a surcharge tax for trucks.

INDIANAPOLIS — It won't be long before Indiana residents feel the benefits and costs of a $1.2 billion infrastructure plan Gov. Eric Holcomb signed April 27, along with the state's two-year budget. "I can assure you come July, you and all of you, are going to smell asphalt morning, noon and night," Holcomb said.

Leaders of Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards' task force that recommended a $700 million increase in state aid for roads and bridges stepped up efforts April 27 to win legislative support for improvements.

An Indiana Senate committee March 28 pushed through plans to raise the gas tax by 10 cents and open Indiana interstates to tolling.

Gov. John Bel Edwards plans to piggyback on the bills of key state lawmakers to tackle Louisiana's road and bridge problems in an increasingly toxic political environment.