Pres Biden Opposed to letting the federal gasoline tax rise at the rate of inflation to fund infrast

[Budi]

The White House made clear Friday that President Joe Biden was opposed to letting the federal gasoline tax rise at the rate of inflation to help pay for an infrastructure package that a bipartisan group of 21 senators is trying to craft.

The gas tax increase was part of an early package that called for $579 billion in new spending on roads, bridges, rail and public transit.
It’s unclear if it will make the final cut and the White House seems intent on making sure it doesn’t.
https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-business-government-and-politics-628666300e1ed0c9ad11c6eb8c608c4f

SNIP
“After the extraordinarily hard times that ordinary Americans endured in 2020 — job losses, shrinking incomes, squeezed budgets — he is simply not going to allow Congress to raise taxes on those who suffered the most.”

The federal gas tax stands at 18.4 cents a gallon and has not increased since 1993. It helps pay for highways and mass transit programs around the country.
Congress has traditionally relied on the user-pay principle to pay for road and bridge work, but is increasingly relying on general funds to accomplish that task.
Lawmakers from both parties are wary of attack ads accusing them of supporting a hike in gas prices.

Oregon Sen. Ron Wyden, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, said that indexing the gas tax to inflation was a nonstarter for him.

“It’s another hit on working people,” Wyden said.

Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, said a gas tax hike is a “Republican thing.”
https://www.abc12.com/2021/06/18/biden-objects-raising-gas-tax-pay-infrastructure/

[SheltieLover]

1. Good!

Wth is it written consumers must pay for everything?

[Budi]

3. Right? Pres Biden said early in in his talks about infrastructure policy

There will be NO gas tax increase.
He is a man of his word.

Thanks President Biden ~

[SheltieLover]

4. Yes, he is!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

2. Republicans don't want a gas tax hike either, it's just (clever) political posturing

Just sayin'.

I also think a gas tax tie-in to inflation to pay for infrastructure makes some real sense, esp. if used for more public transit.

[Budi]

6. Yup. For those earning over $400,000.

Biden is adamant about a wealth cutoff when it comes to a contribution to the needs of the country.

[PoliticAverse]

11. So when Republicans call for repeal of the gas tax "to help working people" what are Democrats...

going to do?

[Red Mountain]

5. Fees, taxes, whatever payments they can squeeze

Out of the poor to avoid the people who benefit the most from our infrastructure investments paying their fair share.

It is a Republican thing. Maybe even 'thang'.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

7. I don't recall the GOP often being 'pro-gas-tax hikes' ... only when they can pull 'em out their ass

to hamstring efforts by Democrats ... do they start hollering for them.

They'd generally rather the taxes stay the same or go down ... accompanied by the government also doing nothing, cause it doesn't have the $ to do so.

[global1]

8. Time For The Rich To Pay Their Fair Share....nt

[MichMan]

9. If we are really serious about climate change & reducing fossil fuel usage,$1/gal more tax is needed

That would be the best and most effective way to wean people away from gas guzzling big pickups and SUV and towards electric vehicles.

The thing is, we want cheap gas, but don't want people actually using much of it, which is unreasonable based on human nature.

I understand that it wouldn't be popular, but given that President Biden and our military just said that global warming is the biggest threat to our country, it would be the responsible thing to do.

[maxsolomon]

10. Got excoriated yesterday for saying the same thing.

Per gallon tax hasn't changed since 1993, while the cost of gas has doubled and the value of a dollar has eroded.

It would hurt the poor and working class the most, but it would raise the cost of everything because transpo costs would be passed on.

Everywhere else in the developed world, petroleum is taxed higher that the US, and used to mitigate the impacts of burning it.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

12. I'm on the same side ...