Sen. George Voinovich of Ohio is retiring. And in his last days, he’s letting it all out. Including his strong view that the federal gas tax needs to be raised (just a reminder: it hasn’t been raised in nearly two decades). In a letter to members of President Obama’s debt commission, Voinovich laid out his argument:
Fuel taxes today fund the vast majority of the federal government’s investment in infrastructure projects… Due to dwindling fuel tax receipts, Congress has had to transfer billions of dollars from the General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund to maintain our current level of federal involvement….
The lack of investment in our crumbling bridge, highway, and transit systems is a missed opportunity for the creation of thousands of well paying jobs and long term economic growth for our Nation.
At an Ohio conference last month, Voinovich said, “I believe Americans are willing to pay a higher gas tax to create jobs, improve our infrastructure and better our climate. And many of my conservative colleagues do not consider that gas tax as a tax, but as a user fee.” [SButtonZ button="digg"]
So if Democrats are supposedly in favor of raising the tax, and many Republicans aren’t opposed to it, then what’s the holdup? (Don’t answer that question.)
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Tags: gas tax, sensible ideas
To get the drill baby drill crowd along, instead of raising the gas tax, put a levy on imported crude oil.
The real answer to the question is that Democrats aren’t in favor of it. With current majorities in the house, senate, and a willing president, there isn’t a single Republican that is needed to pass any legislation. But the Democrats are divided, and thus, a fuel tax increase will not pass.
Agreed. What is the gas tax at right now, $0.18? Local gas prices fluxuate that much in a month, they could double the gas tax by adding $0.18 and people wouldn’t be able to distinguish the difference.
Sure they would notice. Now gas prices would permanently go up $0.18 a gallon. You do realize that this would effectively raise the cost of every single good shipped in this country? Companies will just raise their prices to make up for the additional tax burden and pass the cost right on to the consumer. Then not only does it cost you more to drive to that nice new construction job, but the cost of clothes, tools, food, and just about everything else goes up.
Voinovich is hardly a Republican; he’s one of the most moderate members of his party. Plus, he’s retiring, so he can’t be held liable for the “ZOMG he’s for raising the gas tax” factor.
In defense of Sen. Voinovich, he has been a supporter of raising the gas tax from some time. He spoke publicly in favor of it all the way back in 2002. This is from a Senate hearing on 9/30/2002 — “The short- and long-term viability of the Highway Trust Fund to meet our transportation needs is an issue that will be discussed in the coming months. In the short-term, we will have to determine the annual funding level the Highway Trust Fund can sustain and still meet its obligations. With our country’s finances already in the red, I do not think we can expect that additional resources outside the Highway Trust Fund will be available for highway projects. We must plan for the future based on the principle that the highway program is a fully user-fee based system that pays its own way.”
Not addressing the gas tax will continue to negatively affect travel time, and the ability to maintain the current transportation system. The tax has not been raised since 1993 and the cost to maintain and improve the system has increased with inflation. Not to mention the inability to expand the system with the limited funds currently available.
John- I guess you would prefer to have crumbling roads then. Traffic congestion and more auto repairs harm the economy far more than a higher gas tax.
[...] Ohio GOP Senator: Raise the Gas Tax (Infrastructurist) [...]
Raising gas taxes would hurt America, as all taxes do. Tolls are also out of the question. We need free highways to get around. Don’t try to shove us into bikes, buses, and trains like Europeans. We’re Americans and we need our freedom, not socialism.
America needs cheap fossil fuel powered transport in the form of cars, SUVs, and 18-wheelers.
Let local municipalities take care of their own roads and bridges. I shouldn’t have to pay for road repair in an area I don’t live in. That’s unfair.
Above all, don’t raise taxes, especially not in this toilet of an economy,
Wake up people! Gas taxes aren’t paying for food stamps or some other feel good social program. They are vital to our economic well being right now and into the future. Without a well maintained infrastructure we’re on the eventual road to third world status! The plain truth is $0.18 cents a gallon just doesn’t raise as much money as it used to, and more to the point that money doesn’t have the same buying power that it used to have. It’s the proverbial no-brainer. Our highway system has been fully self supporting in the past, and there’s no reason it can’t be in the future as well! If you can’t afford the gas to use it, ride your bike instead! I say add a nickel to the gas tax right now (28% increase). It may not be enough in the long run, but its better than nothing. There’s not a person out there that would even notice a nickel a gallon increase. There’s no need to double the tax in these hard times. If needed, we revisit the need for another nickel a year or two from now until the system is fully self supporting again.
When Dwight Eisenhower was in Germany in the 1940′s he saw the autobahn system and recognized the economic, social, and strategic value of connecting a country with high speed roadways. His vision is, in part, a major reason why we’ve had the good life for so long in this country. I for one love the freeway system and will pay my fair share for the benefit of using it. I think everyone else should do the same.
P.S. Shame on some States for setting up toll booths to use what should be roadways supported by gas taxes. All the buildings, personnel, and equipment necessary to run these systems is amazing! For goodness sake, just collect enough State gas revenue to run these systems and get rid of all the overhead costs! Ike wouldn’t have approved of toll roads.
The Reason Foundation says you can increase highway expenditures without raising the gas tax.
http://reason.org/news/show/highway-trust-fund-reform
Spokker, linking to Reason falls under the legal definition of trolling.
Sure they would notice. Now gas prices would permanently go up $0.18 a gallon. You do realize that this would effectively raise the cost of every single good shipped in this country? Companies will just raise their prices to make up for the additional tax burden and pass the cost right on to the consumer. Then not only does it cost you more to drive to that nice new construction job, but the cost of clothes, tools, food, and just about everything else goes up.
True, but shipping is typically only a small part of the cost of goods, maybe 5%. So a 7% increase in gas prices would result in a 0.35% price increase or so, probably spread out over a couple years. You won’t notice or be able to distinguish it from the background noise and inflation.
“Spokker, linking to Reason falls under the legal definition of trolling.”
Free markets. Free minds. Free Willy.
@ Erik E.
“Raising gas taxes would hurt America, as all taxes do. Tolls are also out of the question. We need free highways to get around.”
Really? Nothing is FREE. Taxes PAY FOR infrastructure. Taxes to not hurt America, taxes build America.
We could change the structure of the tax to be a percentage, and not a flat 18 cents which has eroded over the years. That would help solve the problem.
Erik E’s comment is so absurd, I can’t tell if he’s being serious or mocking the tea party.
Why are tolls out of the question? It’s only fair that the people using the roads pay for them.
Why do you even bring up socialism? The interstate highway system itself is the largest “socialist” program in world history.
*Sigh* The serious highway trolls think tolling will solve the problem of not having money to build more roads. And they also double-talk about energy-efficient cars before driving their gas-guzzling SUVs.
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