Congress Faces Tough Decisions on Gasoline Tax
The tax that helps support our transport infrastructure, set to expire in September, hasn't been adjusted for inflation in 18 years.
As Reuters reminds us, Congress will have to deal with the gasoline tax this fall. The levy, which produces several billion dollars in government revenue annually, is approximately 18.4 cents for every gallon of gas sold. The proceeds help maintain our roadways and now-crumbling infrastructure. Set to expire on Sept. 30, just after Congress returns from recess, the tax isn't indexed for inflation and hasn't been adjusted in an astonishing 18 years. So you can see why we are a bit concerned over its renewal. 
Check out the graphic at the top of this post. It was produced by Infrastructurist, an excellent website that regularly examines matters relating to the nation's infrastructure. (Clever name, then.) It details the evolution of the federal gas tax over the past century, beginning with the penny-a-gallon days of 1932. Note that it essentially stayed the same, just 4 cents, from 1959 to 1983. This should tell you something about the government's approach to the tax. Long story short: No politician looking to stay popular will touch it. Or talk much about it. A majority also answered that traffic congestion was not “a fact of life” — in other words, people believe something can be done about it. A majority (55%) also responded that our country’s infrastructure is outdated, unreliable and inefficient. On the statement, “Transportation infrastructure funding decisions are based more on politics than need?” a whopping 62% said they strongly agree.
This is neither the time nor the place to argue for or against an increase in the gas tax, or to detail the pros and cons of the tax's ownership (i.e., federal versus state). But it is a place to point you toward relevant information. For starters, take a look at the Reuters piece linked above. Note the comment regarding agendas, and remember the politics line quoted above. Then read the thoughts of Car and Driver's Aaron Robinson and Infrastructurist's Jebediah Reed, both of whom make eloquent cases for -- well, I'll let you find out. (Reed's post is dated and short but still relevant; note, however, that there's still "no way of paying for it," as he mentions.) 
Oh look! All the self-declared 'conservatives' want things for free. The horror of more than 18 cents a gallon gas-tax! After all we are ENTITLED to cheap gas aren't we?
This isn't about being entitled to cheap gas. This is about being entitled to a government that doesn't squander our money. Do you think most Americans would mind paying their fair share of taxes if the money was actually used wisely and for its intended purpose? The gas tax, like most everything else in our broken and corrupt government, is siphoned off for things other than road construction and maintenance. THAT'S why the government doesn't deserve a penny more from any of us. Not until they can prove they're not wasting half of what we give them. Is that an unreasonable request when 40% of what Obama is spending has to be borrowed?Oh look! All the self-declared 'conservatives' want things for free. The horror of more than 18 cents a gallon gas-tax! After all we are ENTITLED to cheap gas aren't we?
I have an idea: in Iraq gas is cheap and nobody fixes the roads and you drive up a trash-littered dust-track to your 'estate-behind-walls'. If you have money. That works for me! Maybe that's where we are heading? True hardcore 'everybody-for-himself'? Or maybe we should have gas even cheaper than in Venezuela and pay the difference with what? Our budget surpluses? Oh forgot - we are living beyond our means already! Shoot that won't work! Maybe we can just 'drill, drill, drill' till the cows come home and mandate we sell it below what it costs to squeeze it out of the earth. We all know we are 'being ripped off' by big oil, don't we?
Well let's just pray like Mr. Perry and maybe the roads and bridges will magically not fall apart!
Oh and btw, unemployment in Germany and much of Western Europe is lower than in the US despite high gas-taxes. Of course, once benefits and the now loafing (under) self-employed over here are factored in we maybe more up at 20% unemployment too.
Now get this; gas is even more taxed in Norway, an oil exporter and more than 100% hydro-power self-sufficient society. What are they thinking over there? Saving all that money for what? A rainy day? Pah-leazze!
First do we know if all of the current Gas tax's goes to roads,,How much does it take for the Government to spread the money around, is it efficient, maybe you should have a privatized entity that controls the money in a more efficient manner, any one knows the Government takes allot of money to distribute money, Case point Cash for Clunkers give 4500 dollars cost 25,000 dollars great ratio,
Government is not the answer beside defense of this country, unless of course your one of the 35 million+ getting Government checks,
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