2013
A Gallup survey released Monday indicates that 66% of the public would vote against a state law that would increase the gas tax by up to 20 cents per gallon, with the revenue going towards improving roads, bridges, and building more mass transit. Just under one-third said they would vote for such a measure.
While it is true gasoline is a necessity not much different from electricity, it is also true that an expensive infrastructure is necessary to utilize both these sources of energy; wires in one case roads in the other.
Our method of taxing to pay for the gasoline based infrastructure seems in disarray. There is a federal tax and a state tax which varies widely. I can drive fifteen miles to another state and pay nearly twenty-five cents a gallon more for the same gas driven mostly by the tax per gallon.
Is there a better way to pay for our infrastructure, encourage mileage efficiency, and encourage environmentally friendly changes than gradually increasing the gasoline tax? See this earlier post on the subject.
I checked this morning and the price of a gallon of gas in Germany is $5.829 (converted from liters). Yesterday I paid $3.39 Perhaps with the economy still in recovery, now is not the time for big increases in any tax, but if Americans want their open road and car pool to work, somebody has to pay sooner or later.
Note: Release from the Congressional Budget Office 4-24-13
“The current trajectory of the Highway Trust Fund is unsustainable. Starting in fiscal year 2015, the trust fund will have insufficient amounts to meet all of its obligations—CBO projects—resulting in steadily accumulating shortfalls.”
Related articles
- Petition against gasoline tax hike collects 4,000 signatures (vtdigger.org)
QUINNSCOMMENTARY 
I live in Pennsylvania and commute to New Jersey every day to work. I used to always fill up my car with New Jersey gas because it was cheaper. When it occurred to me that the price difference is due to state taxes, I went back to filling up in PA. If I want better roads and safe bridges, I should be willing to pay for them. Don’t fight the tax. Fight for legislation that ensures that the money collected is used for infrastructure. I would also support the federal tax being increased by 1/10th of a penny to help the national highway system. It would also get rid of that stupid 9/10ths extra per gallon.
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Getting back to the government trust issue of the other day, I doubt there are many out there that actually believe the funds generated by this next tax will actually go to building/ rebuilding our infrastructure. We may very well need these upgrades/additions but the likelihood of it actually getting done and at the price originally forecasted is slim to none. Sorry to have to be so negative but I have leaded over the years that the last person to trust with your hard earned dollars is a politician. A perfect example is the disaster n the meadowlands. Need I say more?
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