Bloomberg – by Erik Wasson, Mark Niquette
President Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser raised the possibility of increasing the federal gasoline tax next year to help pay for the administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan, U.S. Representative Tom Reed said.
National Economic Council Director Gary Cohn brought up the fuel tax as a way to help fund promised upgrades to U.S. roads, bridges and other public works during a meeting with a bipartisan group of lawmakers dubbed the Problem Solvers Caucus on Wednesday, said Reed, a New York Republican who is co-chairman of the caucus.
There have been proposals over the years to raise the gas tax, which hasn’t been increased since 1993, but they have faced stiff opposition from congressional Republicans and others loath to raise taxes.
As recently as May 1, after Trump floated the idea in an interview with Bloomberg News, House Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady seemed cold to the idea. Asked then if he’d rule it out, he said, “In my view, yes, but we’re going to have that discussion.”
On Wednesday, Brady was no more enthusiastic. “Hm. I’m going to stay focused on tax reform right now,” he said.
Revenue from the federal per-gallon taxes of 18.4 cents on gasoline and 24.4 cents on diesel has declined as inflation robbed them of their purchasing power and the average fuel economy of a passenger vehicle increased by 12 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Business and transportation groups have called for increasing the federal gas tax to help sustain the federal Highway Trust Fund that provides money to states for projects.
Representative Mike Simpson, a Republican from Idaho, said he would support an increase.
“It’s a user fee,” Simpson said. “We’ve got to convince people that the money goes to roads and bridges and not all the other bull.”
In the Bloomberg News interview, Trump said he “would certainly consider” raising the U.S. gas tax to fund the infrastructure improvements he promised during the campaign. He described the idea as supported by truckers “if we earmarked money toward the highways.’’ But the White House quickly said the president wasn’t endorsing the idea.
The White House didn’t immediately return a message seeking comment on Cohn’s remarks. The administration has said it plans to pursue an infrastructure package after ongoing efforts to overhaul the U.S. tax code are resolved.
Some one please send this jew back to that shitty little country in the middle east.
I got a better idea
Let’s make this loser unemployed
Than let’s pass a law that all his money and estate pays this bullshit tax
Oh and lately have any of We the People been voting for any of these dumb fk ideas?
No , no we haven’t
It’s been our dam so called ” representatives”
That are
Well pal , yer time is Up!
“President Donald Trump’s chief economic adviser raised the possibility of increasing the federal gasoline tax next year to help pay for the administration’s $1 trillion infrastructure plan, U.S. Representative Tom Reed said.”
It would be far cheaper just to hang the whole lot.
So where does the average 20 cents per gallon go now every year? How long/many gallons would it take to reach the Trillion $$$ Mark. My calculator isn’t that big to handle all those numbers I’m guessing 1-2 years? so another tax increase is nothing but proposed Theft. Then you have the individual States Gas Tax on top of that. where is that money going? We live in the south and have seen an improvement in the roads over the past few years but up north WTF is wrong with the Northern states Some of the worst raods we have ever driven.
Singing worship songѕ is good but that?s not the only method to worshiр.?
Daddy said, maүbe to make Larry stop singing.
?Ƭhere are many wɑys to woгshiρ.
Very cryptic of you.
I fail to see the connection with this article, however.