CONCORD — The House Republican leadership blasted Democrats for proposing a gas tax hike while prices at the pump are at an all-time high, but the proposal’s sponsor says it is time to take care of the state’s highways.

“At a time when our hard-working citizens are already being crushed by the high cost of filling up their tanks resulting from the doubling of gas prices under the Obama administration, the last thing we need is the gas tax increase that the Democrats have put forth,” House Majority Leader Peter Silva, R-Nashua, said. “Now we have a Democrat legislator filing a bill to increase the gas tax with the encouragement of their nominee for governor, Maggie Hassan.”

Last week at a debate before the Business and Industry Association, Hassan said as governor she would be willing to have a discussion about raising the gas tax.

But the lawmaker who made the bill request, Rep. Chuck Weed, D-Keene, was more emphatic, saying the state needs to take care of its roads and bridges.

“We need to start paying for our infrastructure. We have not had a gas tax increase since the 1990s,” Weed said. “Part of the money would go to betterment, so a good part comes back to the communities.”

Many attempts have been made to increase the gas tax since the early 1990s, but all have failed.

The state gas tax is 18 cents a gallon; the federal tax is 18.4 cents.

Gas tax revenues have declined with higher gas prices, greater fuel efficiency and electric and hybrid vehicles.

Last session, lawmakers passed House Bill 1144, which established the Commission on Taxation of Alternative Fuels and Electric-Powered Vehicles.

The bill was sponsored by several members of the House Public Works Committee from both parties.

In Silva’s statement released by the House Majority Office, he blames Democrats for trying to take more money from taxpayers, saying the difference between the two parties is stark.

“The voters should ask themselves who is more committed to protecting your paycheck, big-spending Democrats or fiscally responsible Republicans,” Silva said. “It’s an easy choice.”

Weed said the highway system is not the only area of state services that is underfunded.

“Government provides a service and we have woefully neglected our infrastructure,” Weed said.

grayno@unionleader.com