Senate bill would nearly double the gas tax

[Geee]

The Hill :

Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) is introducing legislation that would nearly double the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gas tax to help pay for road and transit projects around the nation.

 



Carper's bill would increase the gas tax by four cents per year for the next four years, resulting in a 16-cents-per-gallon increase by 2020. 

The legislation would offer tax credits to offset the impact of the gas tax hikes on drivers, according to Carper's office.

 

The Delaware senator said the failure of Congress to pass a long-term transportation bill this summer showed it is time to raise the gas tax, which has not been increased since 1993.

 

“Rather than lurching from crisis to crisis, increasing country’s debt, and borrowing more money from foreign governments to pay for our transportation system, I say it’s time to do what’s right," Carper said in a statement, referring to the three-month transportation funding patch that was approved by Congress before they left for recess last month.