Top Republican open to gas tax increase

[Auburn85 364]

http://money.cnn.com...s-tax-increase/

Gregory Wallace

The last time the federal gas tax was increased, the price at the pump was $1.09.

That was 1993. Twenty years later, lawmakers are considering an increase.

The incoming Republican leader of the Senate Transportation Committee said Sunday an increase is up for consideration, as "we have to look at all the options."

"I don't think we take anything off the table at this point," John Thune said on "Fox News Sunday."

Prices at the pump are at the lowest point in years -- the nationwide average has tumbled more than a dollar in the last year, reaching $2.20 on Monday.

That's given drivers significant relief at the same time as the federal highway fundcontinues to face huge shortages. Thune said the fund is looking at "about a $100 billion shortfall."

On top of that, the law behind the fund is set to expire in May.

And the nation's infrastructure is in dire need of repair. The American Society of Civil Engineers rated the country's roads and bridges a D+.

Some of his colleagues, led by Republican Senator Bob Corker and Democratic Senator Chris Murphy, have proposed an increase of 12 cents per gallon over the next two years, then linking increases to inflation.

Business leaders, including the Chamber of Commerce, have also called for an increase.

President Obama isn't currently on board with that, but is open to "compromise," his spokesman said Monday.

"We don't believe the best way to fund modernizing our infrastructure is to raise the gas tax," said Press Secretary Josh Earnest. "But some people do and we're willing to consider those proposals."

Obama has instead called for eliminating what he says are unfair tax loopholes.

The feds currently collect 18.4 cents in tax per gallon of gasoline. While gas prices, the cost of highway repairs and inflation have climbed, the gas tax hasn't.

When varying state taxes are factored in, the price of gas at the pump includes 23.47 cents in taxes, according to an estimate from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

[AURaptor 1,113]

Taxed

Enough

Already

[AUUSN 823]

Taxed

Enough

Already

Keep singing that as you drive over the crumbling bridges, neglected because of budget priorities.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

Raptor....I agree. The gov't wastes enough money every day on stupid stuff to fix every bridge in the country.

Edited January 6, 2015 by Proud Tiger

[AUUSN 823]

Raptor....I agree. The gov't wastes enough money every day on stupid stuff to fix every bridge in the country.

Well.....that made no sense.... so, random meme time

[AUloggerhead 1,514]

I would be open to a gas tax increase -- but only if the XL pipeline gets approved.

[TexasTiger 8,928]

Raptor....I agree. The gov't wastes enough money every day on stupid stuff to fix every bridge in the country.

Proud's done the math!!!!

[autigeremt 5,665]

I'd be more for it if the government was more accountable (I may still be for it) but that's a pipe dream. We do need to create some of those shovel ready jobs.....not sure what happened the last time we were supposed to fix roads and bridges.

[TheBlueVue 177]

There will never be enough tax revenue to solve the spending problem in Washington. Taxes this year are at an all time historical high and we're still looking at a budget deficit of $500 billion dollars. Another tax just works to enable the spending spree that must and will eventually stop, either by design or by collapse.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

AUUSN......great self pic. Thanks. I have been wondering what you looked like.

[AUUSN 823]

AUUSN......great self pic. Thanks. I have been wondering what you looked like.

And I found your latest video...

edarem - Backscratcher:

[AURaptor 1,113]

Taxed

Enough

Already

Keep singing that as you drive over the crumbling bridges, neglected because of budget priorities.

+ 18 trillion in debt already ? The bridges should be fixed and shining across the country for that price tag. If they're not , then it's because Govt has been lining the pockets of donors and lackeys. Much like why the levees broke in NOLA. Substandard construction and shoddy corp of engineers studies which amounted to minimal work while politicians and their favs got boat loads of money.

How gullible are you ?

[AUUSN 823]

Taxed

Enough

Already

Keep singing that as you drive over the crumbling bridges, neglected because of budget priorities.

+ 18 trillion in debt already ? The bridges should be fixed and shining across the country for that price tag. If they're not , then it's because Govt has been lining the pockets of donors and lackeys. Much like why the levees broke in NOLA. Substandard construction and shoddy corp of engineers studies which amounted to minimal work while politicians and their favs got boat loads of money.

How gullible are you ?

Yeah man you stick it to the Govment. Bridges are overrated!

[AURaptor 1,113]

Paying for 2.5 bridges & getting just one is a great racket to be in. If you can find the work.

[AUUSN 823]

16.8 Trillion dollar GDP. 3.8 Trillion dollar federal budget in FY15 and we cant find a way to build up our infrastructure? Instead just sit on our tea bags and scream TAXED ENOUGH ALREADY!?

[AURaptor 1,113]

Yeah, it does look good to me.

Anyone remember ' shovel ready jobs' ? ' The summer of recovery ' ?

Govts are CONSTANTLY taking in billions of dollars, and wasting that money. Why no accountability ? Why is it always asinine , dishonest attacks on conservatives, instead of holding govt up to the basic promises we elect them to keep ?

The myth that public spending on roads and bridges builds an economy is about as shallow as " investing " in our future by spending more and more for education, while our kids get dumber and dumber.

AUUSN - you're doing it wrong. VERY wrong. Time to wake the hell up.

[WarTim 3,192]

:bananadance:

[AUUSN 823]

Yeah, it does look good to me.

Anyone remember ' shovel ready jobs' ? ' The summer of recovery ' ?

Govts are CONSTANTLY taking in billions of dollars, and wasting that money. Why no accountability ? Why is it always asinine , dishonest attacks on conservatives, instead of holding govt up to the basic promises we elect them to keep ?

The myth that public spending on roads and bridges builds an economy is about as shallow as " investing " in our future by spending more and more for education, while our kids get dumber and dumber.

AUUSN - you're doing it wrong. VERY wrong. Time to wake the hell up.

Next time we rush headlong into a worthless war spending 1.6 trillion; do me a favor, speak the hell up!

[icanthearyou 3,311]

Yeah, it does look good to me.

Anyone remember ' shovel ready jobs' ? ' The summer of recovery ' ?

Govts are CONSTANTLY taking in billions of dollars, and wasting that money. Why no accountability ? Why is it always asinine , dishonest attacks on conservatives, instead of holding govt up to the basic promises we elect them to keep ?

The myth that public spending on roads and bridges builds an economy is about as shallow as " investing " in our future by spending more and more for education, while our kids get dumber and dumber.

AUUSN - you're doing it wrong. VERY wrong. Time to wake the hell up.

Next time we rush headlong into a worthless war spending 1.6 trillion; do me a favor, speak the hell up!

Worthless? Those people are coming over here to kill all of us. Besides, taxes were cut to fund the war. What we need is a tax cut to improve our highways.

[Proud Tiger 4,261]

AUUSN....if you were as good with your navy duties as you are with cartoons and videos you would maybe make Admiral someday.

[icanthearyou 3,311]

AUUSN....if you were as good with your navy duties as you are with cartoons and videos you would maybe make Admiral someday.

Grow up.

[AURaptor 1,113]

The war all the Dems were in favor of & voted for ? Nice red herring.

Edited January 6, 2015 by AURaptor

[icanthearyou 3,311]

The war all the Dems were in favor of & voted for ? Nice red herring.

I know it is convenient to forget, I know you will deny it but, that support was based on lies, half-truths, and exaggerations.

[AUUSN 823]

The war all the Dems were in favor of & voted for ? Nice red herring.

It's not a red herring. Either you are for fiscal responsibility or you aren't. You are for fiscal responsibility when it fits your ideology.

[AUUSN 823]

AUUSN....if you were as good with your navy duties as you are with cartoons and videos you would maybe make Admiral someday.

Those cartoons are a direct representation to the level of input you provide to these discussion; commensurate in every way. You provide zero in depth analysis. Only, 'good one', 'I completely agree', 'hey everyone, look at the latest worthless Fox News story I found!'