A panel of State Senators is contemplating raising the gas tax to pay for better state highways -- even though a gas tax hike has stalled in the House of Representatives. Minnesota Public Radio's Martin Kaste reports: Members of the Senate Transportation Budget committee aren't supposed to spend their time talking about what's going on over in the House, but these days they can't help themselves. Bloomington Republican Bill Belanger despairs openly about the House's unwillingness to raise more highway dollars: ((It's GRIM there... even if Rep Carruthers gets involved over there, it's GRIM, so....))