/ Missouri lawmakers passed a 12.5 cent gas tax increase Tuesday that will be spread out over five years. Gov. Mike Parson will likely sign the measure. The Missouri House gave final approval late Tuesday to raising the state’s gas tax by 12.5 cents over the next five years, a hard-fought victory for advocates of finding a dedicated funding source for transportation projects. The Senate passed the bill earlier in the session. The increase now goes to Gov. Mike Parson who is expected to sign it into law. The bill passed 104-52 after close to four hours of sometimes intense debate. It was one of the rare times where House Democrats proved to be decisive, since the proposal sparked strong opposition from members of the Republican majority. The majority also had to fight off several amendments that would have required the bill to go back to the Senate.