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Apr 10, 2009

GAS TAX * USA - Idaho House rejects "piddly" hike to pay for road, bridge maintenance

Boise,IDH,USA -The Associated Press/The Truckerm by JOHN MILLER -9 April 2009: -- The House voted 37-32 Thursday against boosting Idaho's gasoline tax by 2 cents to 27 cents per gallon, even after supporters said it was "piddly" and would have cost Idaho drivers just $12 a year... Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter originally wanted to raise the gas tax by 10 cents a gallon over five years to raise $174 million for road and bridge maintenance. But the Legislature rejected that idea, along with subsequent proposals to raise the tax by 7 cents, 5 cents, 4 cents — and now just 2 cents... But Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, argued that the Idaho Transportation Department and local road districts already are getting about $800 million this year in federal and state road money, including a one-time infusion from the federal stimulus. Labrador said the agency, which has been criticized for its inefficiency, shouldn't get any more from drivers as the faltering economy boosts unemployment and forces state government to cut back elsewhere...(Photo: rockymountainroads.com Idaho Broads)

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Aug 11, 2008

UNPRECEDENTED FUEL INCREASES * USA - Have bruised and battered segments of the trucking industry

Wilkes Barre,PA,USA -The Wilkes Barre Times-Leader -August 10, 2008: -- Hence, we were surprised to hear trucking executives say last week they would prefer fuel taxes be increased – which would seem to add to their pain at the pump – instead of see the Pennsylvania Turnpike leased or tolls charged for using Interstate 80... The Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association and its national organization both contend Gov. Edward Rendell and lawmakers supporting either of the proposals are taking the easy road and avoiding the politically unsafe path of exploring other options... The most equitable tax, according to the trucking industry representatives, is increasing the tax on gasoline and diesel... The trucking industry makes a valid point: The tax is a levy that correlates directly with how often drivers use all highways, not just the turnpike or I-80... In addition, it gives motorists an option to reduce their tax burden by offering an incentive to lower consumption. It’s a personal choice, they argue, whether to drive an unquenchable Hummer or a fuel-stingy Prius...

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Jul 24, 2008

GAS TAX DEBATE * USA - GT May need to increase to prevent Highway Trust Fund shortfall

Various industry experts have told that suspending the motor fuel federal tax would not make sense

Washington,DC,USA -Logistics Management, by Jeff Berman -21 July 2008: -- ... it appears that member of Congress may be considering raising the tax, according to media reports... The current motor fuel federal tax is 18.4 cents per gallon for gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel, and it has not been raised since 1993... The main objective for Congress potentially raising the tax is due to a major shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund, which goes toward road construction, repairs, and maintenance... Various industry experts have told LM in the past that suspending the motor fuel federal tax would not make sense... “It is my understanding that highway taxes go to the [HTF], which is in dire financial shape,” said Michael A. Regan, CEO of transportation rate analysts TranzAct Technologies. “Now why would you advocate compounding the plight of the highway tax of the [HTF] when we already have more projects and things for those funds than you have funds to do them with? If this was not an election year you would be hearing nothing about highway gas tax.”... And at the National Shippers Strategic Transportation Council’s annual conference in April, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President and Chief Executive Officer Thomas J. Donohue blasted the fact that the motor fuel federal tax has remain at the same level for 15 years. He added that the U.S. needs to “quit fooling itself,” when it comes to the tax, which, if raised, he said, could help fund transportation infrastructure projects... “We have not passed a fuel tax on the federal level in this country for 15 years,” said Donohue. “Infrastructure is the deal, and unless our fellow citizens look at it and deal with it, we will continue to have a problem.”...

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