The trigger was included in the transportation legislation just in case Congress did what many feared it would: nothing.

The tax increase — from 3.5 percent to 5.1 percent — would be applied to the wholesale price of fuel, adding 1.6 cents on every dollar retailers spend keeping their underground tanks full.

Typically, higher prices for filling-station operators are passed to consumers. And they could be looking at an additional 5 cents per gallon, according to an estimate by those pressing for congressional approval of the Internet tax bill.

Goodlatte isn’t sympathetic to his fellow Republicans at the state Capitol, who, looking to next year’s elections for House of Delegates and Virginia Senate, face the uncomfortable prospect of having to explain a highly visible tax increase they wanted to believe would never occur.

“The General Assembly, which has jurisdiction over state taxes, passed the increase in the gas tax; so any changes to that legislation must come from Richmond and not Washington,” said Goodlatte.

The bill on which the Gentleman from Roanoke is sitting is the Marketplace Fairness Act.