During a Jan. 25 broadcast of CBS’ “60 Minutes,” House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said the GOP-led Congress would be able to work with the Obama White House to advance a multiyear highway bill that modernizes aging infrastructure critical to the trucking sector.
The speaker explained to CBS’ Scott Pelley that a long-term transportation measure could be paid for through tax reform, and a “couple of other options being looked at.” When asked about raising fuel taxes, he added: “When the Democrats controlled the House, the Senate, and the White House, they couldn’t increase the gas tax.”
“The biggest problem we have is that the Highway Trust Fund, which is funded by gasoline taxes, continues to shrink as cars get more and better mileage standards. And so the money that’s in the Highway Trust Fund isn’t sufficient to meet the infrastructure needs of the country,” Boehner said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) also has indicated a willingness to work with the president on infrastructure priorities.
Congressional leaders have a few months to advance a transportation bill. The Highway Trust Account is projected to run out of funds when a 2012 surface transportation law expires in May. Congress has not raised fuel taxes since 1993.
