The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing is urging Congress to raise Federal gasoline and diesel taxes. The 15 member panel was set up by Congress to find ways to make up for budget shortfalls on Federal highway projects.
It seems the aftershocks from $4+ gasoline has taken its toll on American gas consumption habits with consumers using less fuel by leaving behing SUVs, driving hybrids and other fuel efficient vehicles and relying more on public transportation. However this lack of gas consumption has greatly reduced the amount of money available for Federal highway and transit projects which are funded in large part directly from the fuel taxes. The commission recommended raising gas and diesel taxes by 50% to make up for the lost revenue.
The use of higher fuel taxes has, of course, been common for decades in Europe as way to incentivize people to use more public transportation while funding such options along with highway infrastructure. Congress would be very wise to follow suit and pour the funds into increased public transportation infrastructure while oil prices are still low - which won’t last for long - and the economy can bear the added cost factored into fuel prices.
You can takepart in promoting smarter transportation alternatives by logging onto One Less Car.
LINKS:
HuffPo: Congress urged to raise gas taxes
CATEGORIES: Environment
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Basing the tax on the weight of the vehicle would be a fair way to assess the proposed tax. A vehicles weight is directly proportionate to the amount of wear on the roadway. We should continue to provide incentives for fuel efficient light weight transportation that have less impact on the environment.
Pass a $1 per gallon gas tax now effective in two years. Give people and companies time to adjust emotionally and fiscally to the coming jump.
In the name of “fairness” I say only liberals should pay increased taxes, since they’re the only ones who are in favor of them.
That this is fair is unarguable.
GOOD RAISE GAS TAXES, BUT SEND NOTICE TO MY EMPLOYER TO ADD COST OF LIVING TO MY PAY CHECK SO THEY CAN ADD THAT COST TO THERE BOTTOM LINE .I CAN GO ON ,BUT I THINK YOU GET THE POINT BY NOW.
We have been told to carpool, take public transport and to make sacraficies in order to reduce our need for foreign oil. Now Congress is considering adding a gas tax per gallon. When is Congress and the Federal government going to start THEIR sacrifices? Congress gave themselves a pay raise in October and I don’t see any fat or pork being trimmed from the Federal budget. Are the members of Congress still getting perks such as Federally provided automobile service, federally provided air transport? Why don’t they pay for that out of their own pocket. We are footing the bill for all this. And whatever happend to the electric car that was going to make such a huge impact on our need for foreign oil? I don’t see the Big 3 Auto makers (bailout buddies ) making any effort to come up with a fuel conservative automobiles that are affordable for the common man do you?
I say NO to a gas tax increase. Trim federal fat/pork, Congressional representatives take a pay cut and start using those monies to fix our infrastructure. Why should the middle income bracket always be the ones to sacrifice and take on the tax burden. We just can’t win for loosing can we!