Nebraska drivers are seeing no mercy at the pumps.

Tuesday the state's fuel tax increased three cents per gallon. Capitol city drivers aren't happy and neither is one state senator who said we need to find other ways to pay for pavement on state highways.

"Are you serious? Can it get any worse than this? It's like they keep piling it on and piling it on. When is it going to stop, you know?" said Casey Friend, Lincoln.

With the state fuel increase Tuesday drivers feel like gas prices are out out of control, and State Senator Tony Fulton feels they are too. He believes this is not the time to increase the fuel tax to fund roads.

"The price of gas seems to go up quite easily on its own. It seems wrong for government to multiply this impending economic catastrophe. We have to find another way. The gas tax cannot be the only mechanism by which we fund roads. Otherwise our roads policy is in serious trouble," Fulton said.

Fulton said he wants to take money from the motor vehicle tax instead of steadily increasing the state fuel tax to meet growing road construction needs.

He said if nothing changes, drivers will face dramatic tax hikes in the next couple of years.

"Nebraskans should prepare for a doubling of the gas tax, and then brace for an additional 15 percent increase each year thereafter. A minimum of 15 percent each, every year, because of the inflationary pressures on the costs of building a road," Fulton said.

"$15 won't get you nothing these days man," Friend said.

Meanwhile, all drivers can do is pay the bill or park their car.

"It's ridiculous. I can't afford to come here," Friend said.

Tuesday's fuel tax increase will make the total state gas tax 26 cents per gallon until the end of the year.

Gas Prices Change Views on Energy

A new poll shows high gasoline prices have dramatically changed Americans' views on energy and the environment. More people now say expanding oil drilling and building new power plants is a bigger priority than energy conservation.

The poll by the Pew Research Center shows nearly half of those surveyed -- or 47 percent -- now rate energy exploration, drilling and building new power plants more important, compared with 35 percent in February.

The Pew poll of about 2,000 adults conducted in late June shows the shift toward energy development across the political spectrum including among Democrats, political independents, liberals and young people.