[KarlInOhio]

Excise taxes are regressive taxes, and excise taxes on gasoline are the most regressive of all, because gasoline, unlike alcohol and tobacco, is a necessity for most people rather than a luxury.

I, on the other hand, like the gas tax better than just about any other tax. It is the closest tax to a user fee for delivery of government services there is. Use it a lot, pay a lot. Use it little, pay a little. Use it indirectly (so you stay at home but have UPS dropping by every day), those that use the road for your benefit will pay and pass on the bill. No BS about social justice or the rich should be paying more because they have fancy new cars while you have a 1990 Oldsmobile.

I would rather have it collected at the state level than laundered through Washington. If Massachusetts thinks the Big Dig will improve Boston traffic, they can pay for it without Hawaii's help.

[Gabz]

I was talking about the federal tax, not the state tax, even though those too are regressive.

I wouldn’t object so much to the state gas taxes IF they were used solely for the purpose of road building and maintenance, my objection is when they are used for everything but the intended purpose of them.

The federal government shouldn’t be collecting excise taxes of any kind.

[ApplegateRanch]

It is the closest tax to a user fee for delivery of government services there is.

Yes; it was...until it started to be used for bike path boondoggles;
"high speed transit" scams;
"greenway initiatives";
"wildlife over/underpasses";
"Scenic Byway" route designations;
and my favorite, "President Obama Paid For This Unstarted Shovel Ready Stimulus Project With Your Gas Tax Dollars" signs....