Make it half a buck
Posted on 06/18/2014 3:23:28 PM PDT by bestintxas
Two senators unveiled a bipartisan plan Wednesday to raise federal gasoline and diesel taxes for the first time in more than two decades, pitching the proposal as a solution to Congress' struggle to pay for highway and transit programs.
The plan offered by Sens. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn., would raise the 18.4-cents-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4-cents-a- gallon diesel tax by 12 cents each over the next two years, and then index the taxes to keep pace with inflation.
The plan also calls for offsetting the tax increases with other taxes cuts. Senators said that could be done by permanently extending six federal tax breaks that expired this year, but they indicated they would be open to other suggestions for offsets.
The federal Highway Trust Fund that pays for highway and transit aid is forecast to go broke by late August. Revenue from gas taxes and other transportation user fees that go into the fund haven't kept pace with federal aid promised to states. People are driving less per capita and cars are more fuel efficient, keeping revenues fairly flat. But nation's infrastructure is aging, creating greater demand for new and rebuilt roads and bridges. At the same time, the cost of construction has increased.
"For too long, Congress has shied away from taking serious action to update our country's aging infrastructure," Murphy said in a statement. "We're currently facing a transportation crisis that will only get worse if we don't take bold action to fund the Highway Trust Fund."
Since 2008, Congress has repeatedly dipped into the general treasury for money to keep the trust fund solvent, sometimes waiting until the government was the verge of slowing down payments to states. States have
(Excerpt) Read more at newsmax.com ...
Does the idiot trying to justify raising gas taxes even realize that the money being brought in now in gas taxes is not even utilized for this purpose?
why in the world would we Americans wish to raise them if we know they will be used elsewhere?(Like funding Obama's slush fund)
If only they would use the money to build and maintain highways and not to force states to build light rail bike lanes and bus only lanes.....f’in azzholes
Corker........ you’re fired
Firs get rid of the leeches stealing highway funds for bike paths, light rail, and other useless green crap.
No matter what folks. Remember! No matter what!
Aaahhhh! Bipartisanship!!
Too bad taxes can begin in the senate.
At least, if they did that, they’d be spending it on transportation projects. However, that’s not why they want the money. More money is collected from the various transportation taxes than is spent on transportation.
Ask the off-roaders in Cali what happens to special taxes paid to benefit their cause.
Of you can still find one.
Make it half a buck
Why even change it then? Or, why not cut the fuel tax rate toward zero, and watch MORE revenue mysteriously increase?
These RINOs do not understand the Laffer curve, anyway.
Let the states pay for their own fricking roads.
Funny how the Federal Highway Trust Fund will be empty this August. August is the month that all 2290’s are due. If only there were some way to divert those funds (now payable in one lump sum instead of quarterly payments) from the general fund to its intended purpose. (2290 FHUT- Federal Highway Use Tax @ $550/commercial vehicle)
Next what about hybrids and electric cars. These do not pay their fair share.
and bikes, they are now using the road, in some places they get a former car lane to themselves.
Obama promised to rebuild all the highways and bridges with the $900 billion dollar slush fund Stimulus money our
republican senators voted to give him back in 2009.
So most of the work should be pretty well complete by now, shouldn't it?
Yeah that's the ticket...and we will all be okay!!!
More and more people are coming to the realization that there is not a dime's ( or even 12 cents) difference between the Democrats and Republicans.
"Congress has repeatedly dipped into the general treasury for money to keep the trust fund solvent"
Indexing taxes with inflation (eg. Taxation without representation) i believe is unconstitutional.
Income tax brackets ARE indexed to inflation.
That was one of Reagan’s biggest accomplishments.
Back in the 70s the fed gov was making a killing by inflating everyone into higher brackets.
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