Gas tax an option for top Republican leader
Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.), the incoming Republican leader of the Senate Transportation Committee, says a gas tax increase is up for consideration.
“I don’t think we take anything off the table at this point,” John Thune said on “Fox News Sunday.”
According to CNN, the last time the federal gas tax increased in 1993, the price at the pump was $1.09. Now, the nationwide average has dropped to $2.20 — the lowest it’s been in years.
Although this has been a relief for drivers, the Highway Trust Fund is looking at about a $100 billion shortfall, Thune says. On top of this, the fund is set to expire in May.
With U.S. infrastructure in dire need of funding, Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) proposed an increase of 12 cents per gallon over the next two years. In addition, business leaders, including the Chamber of Commerce, have called for an increase.
The federal government currently collects 18.4 cents in tax per gallon of gasoline.
About the Author: Allison Kral
Allison Kral is the former senior digital media manager for North Coast Media (NCM). She completed her undergraduate degree at Ohio University where she received a Bachelor of Science in magazine journalism from the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. She works across a number of digital platforms, which include creating e-newsletters, writing articles and posting across social media sites. She also creates content for NCM's Portable Plants magazine, GPS World magazine and Geospatial Solutions. Her understanding of the ever-changing digital media world allows her to quickly grasp what a target audience desires and create content that is appealing and relevant for any client across any platform.Subscribe to Pit & Quarry
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