The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is making a push to raise the federal gas tax by 25 cents per gallon to help pay for the nation’s infrastructure.
The proposal, which will be formally introduced later this week, is part of a series of principles the nation’s largest business lobby will offer in a bid to help shape the debate about upgrading U.S. roads, bridges, airports and other critical infrastructure.
President Trump said an infrastructure bill was a priority of his first 100 days in office—and one with potential for bipartisan support—but it was put on the back burner in favor of other legislative issues. The White House has pledged to introduce its vision of a bill before Trump’s State of the Union address this month.
As envisioned by the chamber, the 25-cent increase would be applied to the current taxes of 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents per gallon for diesel fuel. It is estimated that the increased levy would raise more than $375 billion over the coming decade, chamber staff members said.
Chamber President Thomas J. Donohue said the chamber also plans to offer ideas to encourage additional private investments in infrastructure projects, including expansion of existing federal loan programs. And he said the chamber shares Trump’s goal of streamlining the permitting process for highways and other projects, including at the local level.
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Source: The Washington Post
