Voters split on raising the gas tax

[Meanwhile + 49]

Voters are split on whether the federal gas tax should be increased to pay for infrastructure improvements, according to a Quinnipiac University poll. According to the collected data, Forty-six percent of respondents said that raising the tax would is a good idea, while 44 percent said it's a bad idea. PresidentDonald Trump has reportedly signaled that he'll endorse a 25-cent gas tax increase to fund the $1 trillion to $1.7 trillion White House infrastructure program to repair the nation's highways, bridges and railroads. 

[JohnAtronis + 78]

I don't think he will do it and risk his popularity. He can't afford it. Plus, he ran as someone who wouldn't raise taxes

[李伟王芳 + 77]

republicans gave $2 trillion in tax cut to the rich just one month ago, couldn't that have paid for infrastructure? Now they want to raise taxes on the middle class. Classic

[JohnAtronis + 78]

Just now, 李伟王芳 said:

republicans gave $2 trillion in tax cut to the rich just one month ago, couldn't that have paid for infrastructure? Now they want to raise taxes on the middle class. Classic

The gas tax has not budged since 1993 when Bill Clinton was in office so don't give that 'Republican' excuse 

[Meanwhile + 49]

Obviously none of those fools who are okay with a gas tax hike don't live here in Orange County California where a gallon of gas is 80 cents higher than the national average.

[Stephen + 67]

13 minutes ago, Meanwhile said:

Voters are split on whether the federal gas tax should be increased to pay for infrastructure improvements, according to a Quinnipiac University poll. According to the collected data, Forty-six percent of respondents said that raising the tax would is a good idea, while 44 percent said it's a bad idea. PresidentDonald Trump has reportedly signaled that he'll endorse a 25-cent gas tax increase to fund the $1 trillion to $1.7 trillion White House infrastructure program to repair the nation's highways, bridges and railroads. 

I thought that is why we paid local, state and federal taxes.

[李伟王芳 + 77]

6 minutes ago, JohnAtronis said:

The gas tax has not budged since 1993 when Bill Clinton was in office so don't give that 'Republican' excuse 

Yes but Clinton's increase raised the price by 4.3 cents, bringing the total tax to 18.4 cents per gallon for retail gasoline and 24.4 cents for diesel. The new proposal would elevate the tax to approximately 43 cents for retail gasoline. 

[Joanna + 68]

25% of highway funding is diverted to other projects

[Rodent + 1,424]

1 hour ago, Joanna said:

25% of highway funding is diverted to other projects

The federal HTF was invented in 1956, promising motorists and truckers that all proceeds from a new federal gas tax would be spent on building the interstate system. They aren't. Congress has expanded federal highway spending beyond interstates to include all types of roadways. And since 1982, a portion of "highway user taxes" have been diverted to urban transit (non highway use). Today, the federal role in transportation includes maintaining sidewalks, funding bike paths, and creating scenic trails.

While that fact is technically correct, the funds are still used for transport stuff. It's just used now for all types of roads, not just "highways", and sidewalks, bike paths, scenic trails, urban transport. Still, all road-y type stuff. That stat makes it sound like the fed government is using it for unrelated purposes. Like first-class air travel for lobbyists or something.