Fuel Tax Increases To Fund Highways Gains Support

Our country's infrastructure is in a dilema. Everyone knows it. And the debate continues as to how our nation is going to solve the problem. The Federal Highway Trust Fund is going broke. One of the main ideas being tossed around is raising the tax on gasoline and diesel. A senate committe met this week to discuss creating the next highway reauthorization bill. The ATA, who has long been a supporter of raising fuel taxes, was joined in support this week by the he heads of the Chamber of Commerce and the AFL-CIO. “Delaying infrastructure investments will cost us more in the long run, not less,” said AFL-CIO President, Richard Trumka. “The facts have been studied, reported and discussed to death. The highway trust fund is at a crossroads. Failure to act will mean the transportation system will decay further. To be blunt, we can’t bury our heads in the sand.” Sen. Barbara Boxer, chair of the Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee hopes to produce a bill by April, but the final decision on the bill must be made by the Senate Finance Committee. You can read more here.