Don C. Brunell: For Whom the Roads Toll

Road and bridge tolls keep many elected officials awake at night.

These often inflame voters because they are costs motorists see while driving; whereas, a gas tax is hidden in the price of a gallon of fuel. Too often people filling up their cars ignore the stickers on the pumps which break down the state and federal taxes they are paying.

In Washington, the combined gas tax is now 62.9 cents a gallon while signs are posted from Tacoma to Bremerton telling you crossing the Tacoma Narrows Bridge costs between $5 and $7 depending upon how you pay.

For years, tolls have been political hot buttons...