Gov. Maggie Hassan recently signed into effect a tiny 4-cent/gallon increase in New Hampshire’s gas tax in order to provide crucial infrastructure funding for the state. Even the VP of the Associated General Contractors of New Hampshire praised the small increase, calling it “very realistic” and “a great tool for contractors and for planning purposes,” and pointed out that New Hampshire still has the lowest gas tax in New England.

In return for a tax increase that will have a yearly cost to motorists of about $16/vehicle, the state will be able to continue funding highway improvements and pay off borrowed money for an interstate expansion.

So who could oppose this commonsense deal which will cost New Hampshirites next to nothing? Why the Koch brothers’ national powerhouse political group, Americans for Prosperity, of course. Never ones to miss an opportunity to oppose government spending, no matter how small or how practical, AFP launched a protest to decry the rule change.

Suddenly, the Koch-funded group that wants to flatten the tax code and eliminate the minimum wage is worried about the terrible burden of a 4-cent tax on motorists? Surely it has nothing to do with the interests of Koch Industries, the billionaire brothers’ massive oil conglomerate…