Panel wants fuel taxes hiked to fund highways

[babylonsister]

Panel wants fuel taxes hiked to fund highways

By JOAN LOWY
Associated Press Writer


WASHINGTON (AP) -- A 50 percent increase in gasoline and diesel fuel taxes is being urged by a federal commission to finance highway construction and repair until the government devises another way for motorists to pay for using public roads.

The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing, a 15-member panel created by Congress, is the second group in a year to call for higher fuel taxes.

With motorists driving less and buying less fuel, the current 18.4 cents a gallon gas tax and 24.4 cents a gallon diesel tax fail to raise enough to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge and transit programs.

In a report expected in late January, members of the infrastructure financing commission say they will urge Congress to raise the gas tax by 10 cents a gallon and the diesel fuel tax by 12 to 15 cents a gallon. At the same time, the commission will recommend tying the fuel tax rates to inflation.

The commission will also recommend that states raise their fuel taxes and make greater use of toll roads and fees for rush-hour driving.

A tax increase on this order would be politically treacherous for Democratic leaders in Congress - a gas tax hike was one of the reasons they lost control of the House and Senate in the 1994 elections. President-elect Barack Obama has expressed concern about raising gas taxes in the current economic climate. But commission members said the government must find the money somewhere.

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http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/G/GAS_TAX?SITE=CONGRA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

[MichiganVote]

1. Oh good another fee and another freebie for the oil companies.

How are people supposed to get to work?

[Skink]

2. How about increasing income taxes on higher tax brackets.

As someone that makes 18,000 a year this summer I took on another thousand in debt to get to work and my commute is only 4 miles. I'd take the bus but then I could'nt get home.

[shraby]

3. Which congress created the commission???