9/13: Should federal gas tax be extended?
Moderated by Tom Sabulis
The federal gas tax — 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993 — expires Sept. 30. It generates roughly $32 billion, most of it distributed to states for road construction and repairs. President Barack Obama wants Congress to pass an extension of the tax. Some conservatives want to abolish it and allow states to raise and spend their own money. Two Georgia congressmen debate the issue.
Congressman Hank Johnson, D-Ga., who represents the 4th district, believes that yes, Funding infrastructure is critical to grow our economy, create jobs.
But Congressman Tom Graves. R-Ga., who represents the 9th District, argues that no, the Feds have mishandled gas-tax revenues, mistreated Georgia.
What do you think?
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27 comments Add your comment
seabeau
September 14th, 2011
7:40 am
The problem here is that the proceeds from this tax ia unequally dispersed to the States. The States that collect the most do not necessarly receive the most. That is what Tom Graves is referring to. A better idea would be for each state to collect this tax and use the proceeds within its own boarders for its own roads. Why send it to Washington and pay some federal employee to send it back to us???
Tramicia
September 13th, 2011
8:54 pm
Honestly as I read the first paragraph I was thinking yeah, why not extend the federal gas tax. Then I read the second paragraph. If Hank Johnson think’s it’s a good idea, forget about it.
Road Scholar
September 13th, 2011
8:32 pm
I wonder if the conservatives would be in favor of a war tax to pay for the 2.5 wars? I mean, did they put these wars on the Budget? Did they cause the deficit to increase?
Eric
September 13th, 2011
7:47 pm
Yes, abolish this tax and end the war we can’t afford. Use the proceeds from the war “savings” for much better projects please!
hryder
September 13th, 2011
6:25 pm
I think the Big O needs to be gone from the Oval Office through resignation, his ideas for alleviating the nation’s problems have not been successful, or defeat in the 2012 elections.
Road Scholar
September 13th, 2011
6:18 pm
Doc: Did you text that while sitting in traffic? We need roads, bridges, etc to create mobility for people and goods. How else will our commerce improve?
Doc Brown
September 13th, 2011
5:46 pm
Roads? Where we’re going, we don’t need any roads.