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| Panel wants fuel taxes hiked to fund highways |
| 2009-01-02 |
| A 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes is being urged by a federal commission to finance highway construction and repair until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads. The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing, a 15-member panel created by Congress, is the second group in a year to call for higher fuel taxes. With motorists driving less and buying less fuel, the current 18.4 cents a gallon gas tax and 24.4 cents a gallon diesel tax fail to raise enough to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge and transit programs. In a report expected in late January, members of the infrastructure financing commission say they will urge Congress to raise the gas tax by 10 cents a gallon and the diesel fuel tax by 12 to 15 cents a gallon. At the same time, the commission will recommend tying the fuel tax rates to inflation. The commission will also recommend that states raise their fuel taxes and make greater use of toll roads and fees for rush-hour driving. A tax increase on this order would be politically treacherous for Democratic leaders in Congress - a gas tax hike was one of the reasons they lost control of the House and Senate in the 1994 elections. President-elect Barack Obama has expressed concern about raising gas taxes in the current economic climate. But commission members said the government must find the money somewhere. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #8 More taxes? What the heck are they doing with the taxes we already pay? In particular, how much in Federal highway funds have gone to Illinois for road repair lately? And where did it go? Driving up 39 and 90 recently was like cruising a moonscape. I'm going to have my alignment checked Monday. Soon as we crossed the Wisconsin state line, the road got smooth again. |
| Posted by: mom 2009-01-02 20:08 |
| #7 Panels coming out of the woodwork. |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2009-01-02 17:42 |
| #6 It's the intent, you know, that counts, you know. I thought it was the feeling. I'm so confused... |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2009-01-02 08:37 |
| #5 Well one can disagree with the panel but its probably not strictly correct to call them "seedy politicians". There were a few panel members who were elected officials but most were from think tanks (including Adrian Moore of the Reason Foundation), consulting, industry, banking, etc. |
| Posted by: mhw 2009-01-02 08:05 |
| #4 It's the intent, you know, that counts, you know. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2009-01-02 06:41 |
| #3 soon as they raise those taxes, the funds will be raided for other purposes, like the Donk gravy train of entitlements |
| Posted by: Frank G 2009-01-02 05:35 |
| #2 What about the Federal Highway Trust Fund? Oh, wait. It's full of IOU's just like social security, medicare, etc.,etc. Sorry. My bad. |
| Posted by: PBMcL 2009-01-02 01:41 |
| #1 But commission members said the government must find the money somewhere. Like maybe from all the existing tax money on fuel that is redirected to other special interest programs, bookkeeping games, and multiple pork earmarks. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2009-01-02 00:13 |