Posted on 05/25/2011 12:52:54 PM PDT by Kaslin
Increasing the federal gas tax should be considered to pay for a new transportation bill, a key Democrat said Tuesday.
Rep. Nick Rahall (W.Va.), the ranking Democrat on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said President Obama should be more specific about how he plans to fund a long-term transportation spending bill, and that raising the gas tax should be one of the options.
"We've not had an increase in the gas tax since 1993," Rahall said Tuesday during a speech at the Transportation Construction Coalition's 10th annual Washington fly-in.
"Cars are more efficient," Rahall said. "They get better mileage."
But with gas prices near $4 a gallon, Rahall also acknowledged the unlikelihood that the political will exists in Washington for any proposal to raise the gas tax to get serious traction.
"I know the political suicide, bludgeoning, any other other bad word you want to use" that would come from the proposal, he said to laughter at the Transportation Construction Coalition meeting.
Congress is gearing up to begin work on the so-called Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, or SAFETEA-LU. A current short-term version of the bill, which funds highways and public transportation, is in place until September, but transportation advocates want a longer six-year bill.
The Obama administration has proposed spending $556 billion on transportation over that period, but hasn't yet said how it expects to pay for that spending.
The GOP has criticized the Obama administration for not suggesting how it would pay for its proposed version of the SAFETEA-LU bill, and Rahall on Tuesday said he agreed the president should be more specific.
"We need the administration to come on board to help us with the financing issue," he said.
Republicans in both chambers have indicated that they do not want to spend as much as President Obama has proposed on the new transportation bill, regardless of how it's paid for.
One possibility, Rahall said, is indexing the gas tax to the inflation rate.
All Dems are mentally ill. Look at this great clip of O’Reilly owning Barney Flank for that famous quote about FNM and FRE.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bijtBkKQwY8&feature=related
Everyone spews about how O’Reilly interrupts, but with Blamey Flank, he sputters on and on and on and you HAVE to interrupt him once he gets started.
I am okay with it being considered as an option. Let us make a national referendum vote with the sponsors names clearly displayed during the next election.
I just wonder if gas has kept up with inflation. I remember that in 1995, I could put 10 bucks into the gas tank for 1/2 a tank. Today I pay 20 bucks for the same 1/2 tank. But in 1995, I was paying a buck for milk and today I am paying 2 dollars for milk. So is gas really that much more expensive as anything else. I think gas is just an easy thing to complain about.
So... Let’s see... Exxon gets ten cents a gallon, is said to be raping the public and should have their tax breaks pulled since they’re reaping the profits. The Federal Government gets 18 cents a gallon, and it’s a crisis since it’s not gone up since 1993.
So the ‘liberal true’ part is that Exxon shouldn’t be making a profit and the feds should get at least an extra dime for each gallon of gas... Love liberal thinking.
Then they’ll just spend it!
If we increase the federal gas tax AND refuse to drill for oil, no one will be driving.
Dunce.
Inflation is certainly the core problem. However, we’ve done several things to reduce the supply of oil with our own dumb policies.
Since when do they use the gas tax money for highways?
How ‘bout a tax on every bill put forward by the politicians on Capitol Hill. I know the politicians wouldn’t mind putting out a little of their own money for that. Kind of a “sponsor” tax.
That is a fine idea.
True. But this week in may 1993 the gas price was $1.106 average across the U.S. This week in 2011 it's $3.849. That's an increase of 248%. An an annualized basis that's an increase of 7.2% which is easily double the rate of inflation. and this is all thanks you you democratic morons policy of no new oil exploration/drilling/pumping. You've done quite enough damage already.
The Dems are nothing but a one trick pony. Raise taxes is all they know. How bout this: CUT SPENDING, CUT SPENDING, CUT SPENDING, CUT SPENDING. And if that doesn’t work CUT SPENDING.
Here’s a crazy idea. We could stop forcing drivers to pay for mass transportation and other crap.
Inflation is certainly the core problem. However, we’ve done several things to reduce the supply of oil with our own dumb policies.
Well if the Feds actually spent gas tax on roads instead of spending it on rail and other things then they would not have to raise gas taxes.
Nick (“I am also a supporter of Hezbollah.”) Rahall? While nominally a Presbyterian, Nicky is of Lebanese descent and chaired the vile “Arab Americans for Obama Campaign” in 2008.
The old bait and switch. Just pay a little more tax and we’ll build you some really nice roads they promise. What they deliver is another department of bureaucrats passing regulations for tire companies to make their products more pot hole proof.
You make Willie Green sad.
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