Trump wanted 50 cent gas tax increase

[church mouse guy]

During a White House meeting with House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) several weeks ago, Trump mused about a gas tax increase to 50 cents per gallon, almost triple the current level, according to a person briefed on the exchange who requested anonymity to discuss White House deliberations.

(from News Machete)

“To my surprise, President Trump, today in our meeting, offered his support for raising the gas and diesel tax by 25 cents a gallon and dedicating that money to improve our roads, highways and bridges,” said Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), who attended the meeting. Carper supports the increase and said “Trump came back to the idea of a 25-cent increase several times throughout the meeting.” The president “even offered to help provide the leadership necessary so that we can do something that has proven difficult in the past,” Carper said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...t-hike-in-the-gas-tax/?utm_term=.312f4fc49299

 

[Calminian]

sounds like fake news.

 

[InTheLight]

From May, 2017:

President Donald Trump said Monday he would consider raising the federal tax on gasoline to help pay for infrastructure spending that is the core of his economic plans.


"It's something that I would certainly consider," Trump told Bloomberg News. A higher gas tax has the support of truckers "if we earmarked money toward the highways," he claimed.

Gotta pay for the infrastructure program somehow. It appears his initiative to give states a small amount of money and let them do the rest is DOA.

 

[Calminian]

Trump has a tendency to think out loud. He's considered a lot of things. But look at what actually ends up being done. Much to your chagrin, he makes good conservative choices. Contrast that with Rubio who talks a conservative game and ends on the wrong side of issues. He's actually adopted the media line of opposing school security. Thank God we evaded that bullet.

 

[InTheLight]

Yesterday, Kevin Hassert, the chairman of Trump's Council of Economic Advisers did not dismiss the idea, saying the gas tax is one of the things that is on the table. He called for reform of the gas tax as well. So I would say the idea is alive.

Trump's economic advisers throw cold water on his proposal to raise gas tax
(fast forward to 0:48 seconds in the video)

 

[Calminian]

Well then I suggest you hold your breath, hoping a against hope Trump will finally stumble and justify your campaigning against him during the election (Hillary still loves you for this). I'm merely pointing out the trend of Trump's political history. He considers everything. Then he acts. So far he's made fantastic choices.

 

[Reynolds]

During a White House meeting with House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) several weeks ago, Trump mused about a gas tax increase to 50 cents per gallon, almost triple the current level, according to a person briefed on the exchange who requested anonymity to discuss White House deliberations.

(from News Machete)

“To my surprise, President Trump, today in our meeting, offered his support for raising the gas and diesel tax by 25 cents a gallon and dedicating that money to improve our roads, highways and bridges,” said Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), who attended the meeting. Carper supports the increase and said “Trump came back to the idea of a 25-cent increase several times throughout the meeting.” The president “even offered to help provide the leadership necessary so that we can do something that has proven difficult in the past,” Carper said.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...t-hike-in-the-gas-tax/?utm_term=.312f4fc49299

I prefer shifting tax from income to point of use.

 

[church mouse guy]

The problem with increasing gas tax is multifaceted.
1. It works a hardship on the lower class as the gas price increases raise prices throughout the retail sector and not just on gas. It would probably negate the recent tax cut in my opinion.

2. Any gas tax increase is chump change to the trucking industry, which will raise their fees to the consumer also, because they are the ones who mostly tear up the roads and yet even fifty cents a gallon more would not charge them for all the damage they do. What would be better is to put a larger tax on trucking tractors and trailers.

3. Too much highway gas tax money is diverted for projects having nothing to do with highways. Some of the money goes into public transportation for some reason. Another thing that happens is that the money gets diverted completely away from highways. For example, the City of Indianapolis not too long ago bilked the American taxpayers thirty million dollars to remodel the exterior of their so-so Childrens Museum.

4. The infrastructure can wait or be prioritized better. It seems apparent here in the defense industry that we are in a build-up for a possible war with China/North Korea. Also, the budget is horribly out of balance and Trump and the GOP needs to think about cutting spending instead of raising taxes and increasing spending more than the tax increase. It is time to try to pay off some of the massive federal debt which Obama doubled in only eight forlorn years.

 

[777]

Yeah, what CMG said, and I think Trump was being unclear again. I don't think he would really raise the gas tax at all, he knows the gas taxes already are going into essentially a slush fund. The guy from Delaware jumped all over the idea, because a gas tax increase there would not be nearly as detrimental as it would be to anyone in a rural area. Also, increasing the gas tax always causes inflation, since delivery costs go up.

It is a regressive tax, but it would mostly affect Trump voters, so he'd better not. If high gas taxes caused better infrastructure, then California ought to have one of the best infrastructures in the country, but it doesn't by a long shot.

 

[church mouse guy]

Yeah, what CMG said, and I think Trump was being unclear again. I don't think he would really raise the gas tax at all, he knows the gas taxes already are going into essentially a slush fund. The guy from Delaware jumped all over the idea, because a gas tax increase there would not be nearly as detrimental as it would be to anyone in a rural area. Also, increasing the gas tax always causes inflation, since delivery costs go up.

It is a regressive tax, but it would mostly affect Trump voters, so he'd better not. If high gas taxes caused better infrastructure, then California ought to have one of the best infrastructures in the country, but it doesn't by a long shot.

777. I am wondering if California is financing the new rail lines from the highway fund?

 

[777]

They approved a special bond for that in 2008 but the problem is, that was for six billion, and now it's up to over ten and counting. They want to audit it again, but they already have twice. Moonbeam's boondoggle, he had the nerve to ask Trump for additional federal funds right when they were defying federal law. Now it's estimated to cost two thousand dollars a foot.

Moonbeam and his one party Congress did hike up the gas tax recently:

Here’s how much Gov. Jerry Brown wants to raise the gas tax to fix crumbling roads – Daily News

but it was business as usual:

Gas tax hike has Californians paying more for less

only hope is that the ballot initiative that restricts gas taxes to highway projects passes in November, but these types will loophole it to death if they pass it. No gas taxes.

 

[Judith]

Gas tax increases is to push people towards EVs. My guess is within 10 years they will be just about all that is sold.

 

[Salty]

I prefer shifting tax from income to point of use.

I fully agree - thus I support the AET - click here for link