House Dem wants to nearly double gas tax

[Suzanimal]

Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.) is co-sponsoring a bill to increase the federal gas tax to help pay for transportation projects across the nation.

The measure, which was originally sponsored by Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), would increase the gas tax by 15 cents over the next three years, matching a proposal that was included in the 2011 Simpson-Bowles budget reform proposal.

Larsen said Wednesday that he is becoming the 35th co-sponsor of the measure because the gas tax, which helps pay for the nation's infrastructure projects, has not been increased since 1993.

“When I talked with local transportation leaders, the message I got was that Congress needs to act quickly," he said in a statement about the proposed legislation, which is known as the Update, Promote and Develop America’s Transportation Essentials (UPDATE) Act.
"Federal funds make up about a quarter of Washington state’s transportation budget each year," Larsen continued. "We cannot have a big league economy with little league infrastructure. Raising the gas tax for the first time in more than 20 years will mean states and cities can count on funds to upgrade aging bridges, make rail crossings safer and expand transit options to reduce traffic congestion."

The new support for the legislation to increase the gas tax comes as lawmakers are searching for money to pay for an extension of federal infrastructure funding that is currently set to expire on July 31.

Congress has been grappling since 2005 with a transportation funding shortfall that is estimated to be about $16 billion per year, and they have not passed a transportation bill that lasts longer than two years in that span.

...

http://thehill.com/policy/transporta...double-gas-tax

GOP bill would hike gas tax by 10 cents

A Republican House member is introducing legislation to increase the federal gas tax by 10 cents-per-gallon to help pay for transportation projects across the nation.

The measure, sponsored by Rep. Tom Rice (R-S.C.), would offset the gas tax increase with a $133 income tax credit that would be offered to drivers to minimize the impact of higher prices at the pump.

Rice said in an interview with The Hill that his measure would not cost extra money but would give states "certainty" about the availability of federal transportation funding as a July 31 deadline for the expiration of the current spending looms.

"We have enough revenue already," he said. "Our measure moves money from the general fund into the Highway Trust Fund. It would raise the gas tax by about 10 cents-per-gallon, which would cost the average driver about $130 per year. It would be offset by a $133 income tax credit, so it's revenue-neutral."

Congress has been grappling since 2005 with a transportation funding shortfall that is estimated to be about $16 billion per year, and it has not passed a transportation bill that lasts longer than two years in that span.

The 18.4 cent-per-gallon federal gas tax has been the main source of transportation funding for decades, but it has not been increased since 1993, and more fuel-efficient cars have sapped its buying power.

The federal government typically spends about $50 billion per year on transportation projects, but the gas tax only brings in approximately $34 billion annually.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office has estimated it will take about $100 billion, in addition to the gas tax revenue, to pay for a six-year transportation funding bill.

Transportation advocates are pushing for a gas tax increase to pay for a long-term transportation bill, but Republican leaders in Congress have ruled out a tax hike.

Rice said his measure would index the gas tax to inflation after the initial 10-cent increase is put in place to prevent future standoffs about transportation funding in Congress.

"I hope we don't have to have anymore short-term extensions," he said. "I think it's very harmful to our country. Infrastructure is vital to our economy and it's vital our competiveness."

Rice's bill would result in drivers paying 28.4 cents per gallon on gas purchases, in addition to state fuel taxes, to help pay for infrastructure improvements.

...

http://thehill.com/policy/transporta...ax-by-10-cents

[timosman]

"We have enough revenue already," he said. "Our measure moves money from the general fund into the Highway Trust Fund. It would raise the gas tax by about 10 cents-per-gallon, which would cost the average driver about $130 per year. It would be offset by a $133 income tax credit, so it's revenue-neutral."

What's the point of putting the taxpayer through this silliness then ? Does somebody need to pad their resume ?

[Ronin Truth]

CONgresscitter critic wants to cut their salaries and benefits by 95%.

[timosman]

CONgresscitter critic wants to cut their salaries and benefits by 95%.

Sounds about right - http://www.opensecrets.org/news/2015...-from-average/

[Occam's Banana]

[Some Democrat House members want to] increase the gas tax by 15 cents over the next three years [...]

A Republican House member is introducing legislation to increase the federal gas tax by 10 cents-per-gallon [...]

You see? It really is literally true: there's not a dime's worth of difference ...

[oyarde]

House dems never saw a tax they would not increase.

[timosman]

House dems never saw a tax they would not increase.

This is how the government works at all levels. No need for the artificial gdp/dem divide. Check your local/city/county/state meeting proceedings if available. Rubberstamping tax increases and stripping you of your rights all the way to the bank. There is always somebody who needs the extra money or would feel safer if people did not have that many rights.

[Zippyjuan]

Just for comparison:

The Federal gas tax, last raised in 1993, sits at 18.4 cents per gallon while diesel taxes are at 24.4 cents per gallon. (This doesn’t include state taxes). Fuel taxes come to 2.19 pounds, or $3.42, not including the 20 percent value added tax, in Great Britain. Over 60 percent of the price at the pump goes to taxes and Britain (or at least most parts of it) has not-at least fully not–returned to the Stone Age. Germany’s fuel and value added taxes come to around 1.55 Euros per gallon for gas ($2.07) and 1.42 for diesel. Gas in Europe now goes for $5.60 per gallon (figures in liters).

http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelk...e-the-gas-tax/

Liter is about a quart. For gallon prices, multiply by four.

[oyarde]

Fuel taxes , utility taxes , property taxes are some of the largest crimes against humanity . Gallon of gas , Fed tax , state tax , sales tax on top of those two taxes .Triple taxation , utilities , hidden taxes out the ass , property tax , immoral .Basically , anyone who supports these , well , I support them being eaten by lions or bears while my grand children watch .I will grill out for the festivities .

[Koz]

I love how they mandate higher fuel efficiency standards which drives up the cost of automobiles. Then when the fuel efficiency goes up and people buy less fuel they jack up the fuel taxes. They caused the damn problem in the first place. Which is usually the case in just about every instance when the government starts meddling in the free market.

[CaptUSA]

When I talked with local transportation leaders, the message I got was that Congress needs to act quickly

Terror Alert! When you read those words, be very concerned. They want to attack you before you have time to think about it.

"We have enough revenue already," he said. "Our measure moves money from the general fund into the Highway Trust Fund. It would raise the gas tax by about 10 cents-per-gallon, which would cost the average driver about $130 per year. It would be offset by a $133 income tax credit, so it's revenue-neutral."

Check their districts. If it is truly revenue-neutral, then it shifts the burden from one special interest to another.

For example, an electric car manufacturer, electric utility, or manufacturer of electric charging stations would love this proposal! It would create a yearly incentive to people to not pay the tax by not buying gas. They use the same roads, but now would escape the tax. On an individual basis, it's barely noticeable, but when you are in these industries, the aggregate incentives become huge.

[jbauer]

Why not, Hell $0.15, lets do it like military spending. How about $1 or $10. Just get it over with, confiscate all our money. Put us to work digging and filling in holes and lets get this slow death march to Communism over.

[DamianTV]

How about go and "War Less"?

[timosman]

Just burn this stupid code full of loopholes for special interests.

[The Free Hornet]

Just burn this stupid code full of loopholes for special interests.

Like many of you, I was concerned to see all of these laws on fire. However, I can assure you that True Temper does make a steel wheel barrel and the plastic ones are usually a gray or some non-black color:

www.homedepot.com/p/True-Temper-6-cu-ft-Steel-Wheelbarrow-S6BUT25/202520550

[specsaregood]

I like Randal's bill for funding infrastructure much more.