So apparently there is talk of raising the federal gas tax in Washington. Well, at least one person is chattering.
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) has introduced legislation that calls for a 15-cent increase in the 18.4-cent-per-gallon national gas tax. The measure matches what was outlined in the Simpson-Bowles budget reform.
The last time the federal gas tax was increased was 1993, and the current tax brings in about $35 billion a year. MAP-21 funds road and bridge work at $54 billion, with a chunk of the money coming from the federal general fund.