Gov. Ted Kulongoski says a gas tax increase should be part of a long-term transportation proposal to be considered by the Oregon Legislature to upgrade highways and bridges.

Gasoline taxes haven't been popular with voters, though. Voters crushed the most recent ballot measure - a nickel-a-gallon increase in the year 2000.

But Kulongoski and several Democratic lawmakers said Thursday they think Oregonians might be willing to consider a gas tax as part of a funding package to overhaul the state's transportation system to keep up with wear-and-tear and increasing traffic congestion.