Change I can believe in

Jay Hancock, business columnist for the Baltimore Sun, suggests in "Maryland could lead way by raising gas tax" that Maryland stick its neck out nationally, and raise the state gas tax. (Although while initially popular, I would say that Governor O'Malley hasn't demonstrated that he is a transformational change agent as compared to some of his peers.)

From the article:

Environmentalists like a gas tax because it discourages driving and pollution. So do many Democrats, who tend to have more faith than their Republican colleagues in government's ability to spend the proceeds wisely.

But gas taxes aren't just for liberals anymore. Business leaders and Republicans are pushing energy taxes - some as a way to finance crucial roads and transit systems, some to wean Americans off foreign energy, some to address carbon dioxide emissions and climate change.

"We feel there needs to be more money going into the transportation trust fund to pay for important infrastructure projects," says Will Burns, spokesman for the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, which favors a Maryland gas tax increase.