Judging by the level of protest, Minnesota House Republicans have already chosen the hook on which they want to hang House Democrats in this fall&8217;s election. The only problem, however, is that Minnesota voters are smarter than what Republicans believe they are, and instead have latched onto a dog that won&8217;t hunt.

Most Minnesotans in recent weeks are outraged at rising gasoline costs, jumping sometimes at a dime-a-gallon click where today they hover at nearly $3.50 a gallon.

But in a House Republican campaign that has begun with 15-second TV spots airing in the Twin Cities would have you believe that the outrageous gas prices are all the fault of DFLers who voted for the first state gas tax increase in 20 years.

The DFL-led House voted to override Gov. Tim Pawlenty&8217;s veto of a $6.6 billion transportation funding bill. The bill provides much-needed funds to repair and maintain Minnesota&8217;s crumbling infrastructure.

&8220;You pay, they pump,&8221; says the GOP ad. &8220;Who&8217;s to blame for higher gas prices? It&8217;s the Democrats in the State Capitol. They just pumped up the gas tax by 42 percent, pumped up sales taxes too. Minnesota Democrats &8212; you pay, they pump.&8221;

Minnesota voters are smarter than that, though. They know that the gas prices have soared long before the 2 cents kicked in April 1. And the GOP ad says nothing of the constricted oil sales from the Middle East oil cartel, the ongoing instability over supply as the war in Iraq continues, or of the record profits being made by Big Oil.

The GOP ad also doesn&8217;t mention that Pawlenty and the House GOP had successfully blocked efforts to provide a stable funding source to growing transportation needs. The gas tax, which is a user fee, has stood at 20 cents a gallon since 1988 &8212; a sum long eroded in value through inflation over the years.

House Republicans picked the wrong issue to attempt a comeback for House leadership. Voters are plenty mad about rising gas prices, but they may well be thanking Democrats this fall for having the courage to finally start funding road and bridge repairs. At least then we can save gas by riding on smoother roads.

&8212; Pioneer of Bemidji, May 1