Author Topic: Republicans consider the unthinkable: A gas tax increase to pay for infrastructure  (Read 4042 times)

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Offline mystery-ak

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Republicans consider the unthinkable: A gas tax increase to pay for infrastructure
by Josh Siegel | Feb 12, 2018, 12:01 AM

Republicans are weighing whether to raise the federal gas tax. It's an idea they are prone to hate, but they may need it to pay for President Trump’s infrastructure investment plan.

Supporters of the idea note that the tax hasn’t been raised since 1993 and have plenty of evidence that resistance to a hike is wearing down.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently called for the Trump administration and Congress to raise the gas tax by 25 cents per gallon to help pay for an infrastructure package, projecting it would generate more than $375 billion over a decade. For 25 years, the federal tax on gasoline has held steady at 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. It is not indexed to inflation.

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http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-consider-the-unthinkable-a-gas-tax-increase-to-pay-for-infrastructure/article/2648637
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Offline libertybele

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Republicans consider the unthinkable: A gas tax increase to pay for infrastructure
by Josh Siegel | Feb 12, 2018, 12:01 AM

Republicans are weighing whether to raise the federal gas tax. It's an idea they are prone to hate, but they may need it to pay for President Trump’s infrastructure investment plan.

Supporters of the idea note that the tax hasn’t been raised since 1993 and have plenty of evidence that resistance to a hike is wearing down.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce recently called for the Trump administration and Congress to raise the gas tax by 25 cents per gallon to help pay for an infrastructure package, projecting it would generate more than $375 billion over a decade. For 25 years, the federal tax on gasoline has held steady at 18.4 cents per gallon and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel. It is not indexed to inflation.

more
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/republicans-consider-the-unthinkable-a-gas-tax-increase-to-pay-for-infrastructure/article/2648637

??? So let me get this straight ... Trump is patting himself on the back for a tax cut and putting more $$ into the pockets of most people but wants to repair and expand the infrastructure and now the GOP wants to raise taxes via a gas tax to help pay for it. Got it!  Gee, it's not going to take long for the government to spend the money that they just claimed to be putting back in our pockets.  9999hair out0000 
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Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly, do not claim to be wiser than you are.  Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all.  If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all…do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Offline edpc

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"We are not in favor of a gasoline tax to pay for infrastructure spending,” said David Dziok, a spokesman for Koch Industries. “Doing so would weaken the benefits of comprehensive tax reform by forcing Americans to pay more at the pump. Even worse, it’d be a regressive tax that would hit lower-and middle-income families who pay a higher proportion of their income on energy costs.”


That's all you needed to know, right there.  Big money GOP donors don't want something - it won't happen. 
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Offline Jazzhead

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Makes sense to me.   The combination of the tax bill and the recent Congressional compromise to spend more on defense and domestic priorities threatens to blow a hole in the deficit.  If we want to fix roads and bridges we have be able to pay for it.   The federal gas tax is a simple and fair way to get the revenue needed. 
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Offline kidd

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Just when I start to warm up to the GOP again, they pass a massive spending bill, and start talking about raising taxes.

In the meantime, its been 13 months. No wall yet and Hillary runs free.

Offline WingNot

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The decaying roads and infrastructure is mostly in your dem contolled Sh*thole states in the North and midwest.  Places where money is mismanaged or funneled to welfare programs and such.  Don't tax me to pay for a problem 800 miles away. 
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Offline edpc

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The decaying roads and infrastructure is mostly in your dem contolled Sh*thole states in the North and midwest.  Places where money is mismanaged or funneled to welfare programs and such.  Don't tax me to pay for a problem 800 miles away.


Not hard to see how we got here.  The US highway system was inspired by the Autobahn, which was a pet project of national socialism.
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Offline WingNot

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Not hard to see how we got here.  The US highway system was inspired by the Autobahn, which was a pet project of national socialism.

Well we do need a place to drive our tanks and such to get to a parade.
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Online Hoodat

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Why not cut spending instead?
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Makes sense to me.   The combination of the tax bill and the recent Congressional compromise to spend more on defense and domestic priorities threatens to blow a hole in the deficit.  If we want to fix roads and bridges we have be able to pay for it.   The federal gas tax is a simple and fair way to get the revenue needed. 

“Threatens” - no, “did” blow a hole.

Offline Jazzhead

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“Threatens” - no, “did” blow a hole.

Well, yes.  Where are the GOP budget hawks these days?   
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Offline WingNot

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Why not cut spending instead?


What are you some kind of heretic?
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Online cato potatoe

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There's no way around a tax hike, if there are massive spending increases.  We best put a stop to this foolishness before it happens.  A lot of conservatives are elderly, and are not in a position to deal with inflation.

Offline driftdiver

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Aren't we ALREADY paying a gas tax which was promised to pay for our roads?

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Offline ABX

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The people need to collectively say 'no' to any more spending or taxes, especially infrastructure, until there is an account for what they have been spending. Obama supposedly spent over a Trillion dollars to fix our infrastructure- with nothing to show for it. Then we have a proposal for another trillion dollars, and now a new tax on top of that.

Let's put these numbers in perspective.

Remember all that damage from the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan that wiped out entire towns in 2011?

They have almost completely rebuilt...

For a cost of... 25 Trillion Yen, or 230 Billion (ie less than 1.4th of what we are proposing for the latest infrastructure spending).



Offline edpc

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When they start making decent, reliable, affordable, long-range electric cars, wait until you see the kWh tax dropped on you.
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Offline Gefn

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Offline edpc

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Remember all that damage from the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan that wiped out entire towns in 2011?

They have almost completely rebuilt...

For a cost of... 25 Trillion Yen, or 230 Billion (ie less than 1.4th of what we are proposing for the latest infrastructure spending).


True, but one thing you have to remember:  They have a ton of their companies and products in the marketplace generating revenue for them.  There needs to be a renaissance of that in the US - not just foreign companies building and investing here.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2018, 03:35:13 pm by edpc »
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Offline Jazzhead

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There's no way around a tax hike, if there are massive spending increases.  We best put a stop to this foolishness before it happens.  A lot of conservatives are elderly, and are not in a position to deal with inflation.

The elderly (retirees) drive far less than those of us who commute.   

At some point we have to face up to the reality that if we want to fix bridges and roads we have to be willing to pay for it.   We can't just keep passing on deficits to our kids - and if inflation returns (that's why the markets have sunk the last week or so), the cost of servicing the deficit will go sky-high.   

A 25 cent increase in the federal gas tax (which has remained the same for over 20 years because it's not indexed for inflation, even as cars have become more fuel efficient)  is a responsible and fair way of getting the revenue needed for infrastructure.   
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Offline driftdiver

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The elderly (retirees) drive far less than those of us who commute.   

At some point we have to face up to the reality that if we want to fix bridges and roads we have to be willing to pay for it.   We can't just keep passing on deficits to our kids - and if inflation returns (that's why the markets have sunk the last week or so), the cost of servicing the deficit will go sky-high.   

A 25 cent increase in the federal gas tax (which has remained the same for over 20 years because it's not indexed for inflation, even as cars have become more fuel efficient)  is a responsible and fair way of getting the revenue needed for infrastructure.

I never met a liberal who didn't agree with a tax increase.

What is the 25 cent current tax being spent on? 

We have a toll road here in Tampa, its about 15 miles.  They reported 50 million transactions annually with an average of over $2 per transactions.     Thats more than $100 million a year for 15 miles of road.    6 2/3 million dollars per mile per year.

Surprisingly its not painted in gold.
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Offline jmyrlefuller

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The people need to collectively say 'no' to any more spending or taxes, especially infrastructure, until there is an account for what they have been spending. Obama supposedly spent over a Trillion dollars to fix our infrastructure- with nothing to show for it. Then we have a proposal for another trillion dollars, and now a new tax on top of that.

Let's put these numbers in perspective.

Remember all that damage from the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan that wiped out entire towns in 2011?

They have almost completely rebuilt...

For a cost of... 25 Trillion Yen, or 230 Billion (ie less than 1.4th of what we are proposing for the latest infrastructure spending).

Japan also has far less surface area (a tenth of what the U.S. has) and a much higher population density. They're able to do much more with less.
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Offline edpc

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The elderly (retirees) drive far less than those of us who commute.   

At some point we have to face up to the reality that if we want to fix bridges and roads we have to be willing to pay for it.   We can't just keep passing on deficits to our kids - and if inflation returns (that's why the markets have sunk the last week or so), the cost of servicing the deficit will go sky-high.   

A 25 cent increase in the federal gas tax (which has remained the same for over 20 years because it's not indexed for inflation, even as cars have become more fuel efficient)  is a responsible and fair way of getting the revenue needed for infrastructure.


Honestly, the best thing we can do is prioritize what government should and shouldn't be involved in.  National defense and infrastructure are priorities, but not the major drains on spending.  The sooner we get government out of life management, the better.  Probably won't happen in my lifetime.
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Offline edpc

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Japan also has far less surface area (a tenth of what the U.S. has) and a much higher population density. They're able to do much more with less.

I suppose an argument can be made that their situation requires more complexity, but I understand what you mean.
« Last Edit: February 12, 2018, 03:58:48 pm by edpc »
I disagree.  Circle gets the square.

Offline Applewood

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The elderly (retirees) drive far less than those of us who commute.   

At some point we have to face up to the reality that if we want to fix bridges and roads we have to be willing to pay for it.   We can't just keep passing on deficits to our kids - and if inflation returns (that's why the markets have sunk the last week or so), the cost of servicing the deficit will go sky-high.   

A 25 cent increase in the federal gas tax (which has remained the same for over 20 years because it's not indexed for inflation, even as cars have become more fuel efficient)  is a responsible and fair way of getting the revenue needed for infrastructure.

You must not live in PA.  Here, our gas prices are way higher than the national average because we have not only a federal tax, but also the highest state gas tax in the nation.  An increase in the federal gas task will be a hardship for everyone, particular seniors. 

This congress has no idea what a budget is.  With a budget, you figure out first how much money you have BEFORE you decide what you want to spend and how much.  You don't try to spend money you don't have and then try to find a way to pay for it. 

Spending money, then attempting to recoup it through taxes is not going to work.  Contrary to what these idiots think, there is no infinite amount of money they can wring from the taxpayers.  Eventually, the taxpayers will have no more money to pay.  Then what are these crooks going to do?  Print more money?  Yeah, that worked so well in countries which are now bankrupt.

Offline ABX

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Japan also has far less surface area (a tenth of what the U.S. has) and a much higher population density. They're able to do much more with less.

But they also had much more damage, with entire towns wiped off the map. They had to rebuild much from scratch, not just repair.

And as I mentioned, much of this is done.

The big difference is they don't have the bureaucratic red tape we do and their overall cultural attitude is to do more with less and to be as efficient and fast as possible (with very high quality standards that put us to shame).