Opinion: Transportation trust fund not protected in gas tax hike

Here are some of the components of the policy behind the gas tax proposal you won’t hear about in a press release from Gov. Martin O’Malley or General Assembly’s leadership’s office:

• It increases the cost of diesel fuel disproportionately to motor fuel. The bill initially decreases (until July 1) the excise tax on motor fuel to 18.5 cents per gallon. (Note that effective July 1, the governor’s proposal immediately applies a 2 percent sales tax increase resulting in an actual increase…