Federal gas tax increase on the way?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

WASHINGTON (AP) - A special commission is urging the government to raise federal gasoline taxes by as much as 40 cents per gallon over five years as part of a sweeping overhaul designed to ease traffic congestion and repair the nation's decaying bridges and roads.

The two-year study being released Tuesday by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, the first to recommend broad changes after the devastating bridge collapse in Minneapolis last August, warns that urgent action is needed to avoid future disasters.

Under the recommendation, the current tax of 18.4 cents per gallon for unleaded gasoline would be increased annually for five years - by anywhere from 5 cents to 8 cents each year - and then indexed to inflation afterward to help fix the infrastructure, expand public transit and highways as well as broaden railway and rural access, according to persons with direct knowledge of the report, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the report is not yet public.

The report also calls for rebuilding and expanding the national rail network to meet a growing demand for alternatives to congested highways.

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080115/D8U6725G2.html

[rebeccajo 14]

If the Texas oil barons get their a$$e$ out of Washington so the base price of fuel drops, maybe a tax for roads and railways wouldn't be a bad idea.

In the meantime I say let Exxon and the rest of them write out a check for it.

Edited January 15, 2008 by rebeccajo

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

If the Texas oil barons get their a$$e$ out of Washington so the base price of fuel drops, maybe a tax for roads and railways wouldn't be a bad idea.

In the meantime I say let Exxon and the rest of them right out a check for it.

Besides, we had a rail network once. The auto companies lobbied to have that decimated so how about Michigan pay for rebuilding it?

[rebeccajo 14]

If the Texas oil barons get their a$$e$ out of Washington so the base price of fuel drops, maybe a tax for roads and railways wouldn't be a bad idea.

In the meantime I say let Exxon and the rest of them right out a check for it.

Besides, we had a rail network once. The auto companies lobbied to have that decimated so how about Michigan pay for rebuilding it?

Oh, I like that.