Blumenauer: Congress 'Not Keeping Up Our End of the Bargain'
WASHINGTON — Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) called on colleagues to back legislation he introduced this year that would increase fuel taxes to pay for infrastructure projects during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing on June 17.
His legislation would add 15 cents phased in over three years to the existing 18.4-cent gasoline tax and the 24.4-cent diesel tax. Those federal taxes have not been raised in the last two decades.
“We’re not keeping up our end of the bargain for the 50% of capital spending on big projects that comes from the federal government. We haven’t made any meaningful adjustment since 1993 to the gas tax, relying on short-term fixes, gimmicks — and no matter how you slice it, adding to the deficit,” Blumenauer said.
Before the hearing, Blumenauer urged GOP leaders to approve a long-term funding plan for infrastructure projects at a press conference with officials from American Trucking Associations, the American Road and Transportation Builders Association, and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and other senior Republicans say they are opposed to raising fuel taxes to boost the dwindling Highway Trust Fund. Funding authority for highway programs expires July 31.
