Dems to raise gas prices to fund bridges?

[Slowhand]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A temporary tax on gasoline, diesel fuel or imported oil could provide billions of dollars for U.S. bridge upgrades, a leading congressional Democrat said on Wednesday.

Rep. James Oberstar, chairman of the House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, whose home state of Minnesota was the scene of the August 1 highway bridge collapse into the Mississippi River, said increased taxes on all three products could generate more than $40 billion over three years.

The figures were included in a highway bridge repair proposal unveiled by Oberstar as rescuers continued to search for victims from the collapse of the Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis. So far, five deaths have been confirmed.

The disaster has focused attention on aging and sometimes crumbling U.S. highway infrastructure, and strategies to fund expensive upgrades and replacements.

According to Transportation Department figures, more than 73,000 bridges are structurally deficient. One half of all bridges are more than 40 years old.

Structurally deficient means a bridge has major deterioration, cracks or other flaws. Most bridges are inspected every two years.

"We must act and act quickly," Oberstar said of the need to address the problem.

He suggested that a three-year, 5 cents per gallon tax on gasoline and diesel fuel could generate approximately $25 billion for bridge reconstruction.

A $1 tax on each barrel of oil at the refinery stage, two thirds of which is imported, could bring in another $16 billion over the same period, Oberstar said.

The U.S. gasoline tax has been 18.4 cents per gallon since the early 1990s. The diesel fuel tax is 24.4 cents and there is no import fee on oil.

[TexasDevilDog]

increased taxes on all three products could generate more than $40 billion over three years.


That is more than the gas companies make. :eek:

[Vertnut]

Everyone will just blame Exxon. When it comes to oil and gas pricing, the ignorance on this site (and the general public), tickle me. :p

I saw gas @ $2.59 this morning...about the price it needs to be to never hear of Ethanol again... ;)

[Trip McNeely]

Everyone will just blame Exxon. When it comes to oil and gas pricing, the ignorance on this site (and the general public), tickle me. :p
So true.

[FreightTrain]

LMAO off at a temporary tax. You think any politican is going to give up 13 billion a year once they have been getting it for 3 years lol. Thats why you never see a goverment budget shrink. The goverment will never spend less than they did the year before.

[GhostTX]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A temporary tax ...
Temporary my ***. Since when is any tax temporary?

I want to know what the hell they do with the 38% they get from gasoline taxes now? And my car registration? And my vehicle inspection?

How about they actually manage the money they take from us?

[Mattica]

Temporary my ***. Since when is any tax temporary?

I want to know what the hell they do with the 38% they get from gasoline taxes now? And my car registration? And my vehicle inspection?

How about they actually manage the money they take from us?

haven't you read, they're using those taxes to buy low income families new cars!

[black01gt]

I want to know what the hell they do with the 38% they get from gasoline taxes now? And my car registration? And my vehicle inspection?

How about they actually manage the money they take from us?
Great post! The more we give the more they want and waste.

[AL P]

Temporary my ***. Since when is any tax temporary?

I want to know what the hell they do with the 38% they get from gasoline taxes now? And my car registration? And my vehicle inspection?

How about they actually manage the money they take from us?

Then they don't have any money to build roads so we need toll roads! Then they want to lease the toll roads to the Saudi Arabians for 50 years so they can figure out new ways to waste money at the expense of future generations. Why not just go to the school and steal all the kids' lunch money, its the same shit.

[shlby123]

so will anybody stirke the match of civil war when enough is enough of this shit?

[JP135]

Tell me you didn't see this coming?

[Pro Trash]

haven't you read, they're using those taxes to buy low income families new cars!

Or support illegal immigrants Or give to Iraq Or give to Afghanistan Or pay congressmen and women $15,000 a year for the rest of their lives once they complete one term. Hell the list is huge and as for gas prices I think it is funny anyone has any room to bitch, the Democrats and Republicans are essentially controlled by special interest groups, neither party seems to give a shit about the common man.

[Sean88gt]

Aren't most states running a surplus right now?

Gotta love the 'Go get'em' spirit of the democrats to help the economy out:mad:

[Mustangman_2000]

the Democrats and Republicans are essentially controlled by special interest groups, neither party seems to give a shit about the common man.

precisely.

[91whitebttlehatch]

Temporary my ***. Since when is any tax temporary?

I want to know what the hell they do with the 38% they get from gasoline taxes now? And my car registration? And my vehicle inspection?

How about they actually manage the money they take from us?
and lets not forget how they charge for title changes now

[Fox466]

"We must act and act quickly," Oberstar said of the need to address the problem.




Translation:

Quick, we have an opportunity to plunder their pockets under the guise of increased safety!

Fucking crooks... :rolleyes:

[Casper]

I want to know what the hell they do with the 38% they get from gasoline taxes now?

They fund public trasnsportation on the east and west coasts. And AMTRAC. Aren't you happy to support those who don't have vehicles to fuel up? :mad:

[slow06]

Shit...will the stupidity never end?

[ayzo]

Or support illegal immigrants Or give to Iraq Or give to Afghanistan Or pay congressmen and women $15,000 a year for the rest of their lives once they complete one term. Hell the list is huge and as for gas prices I think it is funny anyone has any room to bitch, the Democrats and Republicans are essentially controlled by special interest groups, neither party seems to give a shit about the common man.

The problem is that common men/women no longer run for positions in congress, its all career politicians who want nothing more than to move up the chain of command to eventually run for president or another high level position that puts them in power. In order to do that they need money and votes which is easy to see once you look at their voting record.

[Mr Majestyk]

Off topic, but buy your gas this weekend...the earlier the better. If/when hurricane Dean enters the Gulf oil prices will shoot thru the roof

[NeedleSharp]

Off topic, but buy your gas this weekend...the earlier the better. If/when hurricane Dean enters the Gulf oil prices will shoot thru the roof

filled up @ racetrack this morning :D

probobly saved about $20

[mikeb]

The first thing they need to do is to use the motor fuel tax for what it was intended for and stop robbing it for other bullshit projects.

If they would do that then i'd support a fuel tax raise to hopefully stave off more toll roads in the future.

One of our legislators (I can't remember who it was) was on JD well's wells report (570) and was talking about this very issue. He is wanting to introduce legislation to stop the fuel taxes from being misused, so at least there is some level of awareness of the issue in austin.