red states rule
08-10-2007, 06:16 AM
Here we go again folks, another lib wanting to raise your taxes
Oberstar wants 5-cents-a-gallon gas tax hike for nation’s bridges
AP Associated Press
Published Thursday, August 09, 2007
WASHINGTON — House Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar on Wednesday proposed a temporary gas tax increase of 5 cents a gallon, that would pay for a new trust fund to repair, replace and rehabilitate structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System.
Oberstar, D-Minn., made the proposal as part of a plan aimed at fixing such bridges and preventing a repeat of last week’s bridge collapse in Minneapolis, which killed at least five people and injured about 100.
But it got an immediate cold shoulder from the committee’s top Republican
The trust fund would be modeled on the federal Highway Trust Fund, which pays for building and repairing roads and bridges through the gasoline tax. Money in the new trust fund could not be used for any other purpose than bridges.
At a news conference announcing the plan just upstream from the bridge collapse site, Oberstar said he was confident he could get support from the Bush administration.
“Governor (Tim) Pawlenty has had a conversion, and I expect the president will as well,” Oberstar said. “At least we’ll give him that opportunity.”
Last week, the Minnesota governor said he is willing to reverse his long-standing opposition to a state gas tax increase.
“If you’re not prepared to invest another five cents in bridge reconstruction and road reconstruction,” Oberstar said, “then God help you.”
Oberstar’s plan is to increase the gas tax, which is currently 18.3 cents a gallon, for three years, which he said would bring in about $25 billion in additional revenue.
The U.S. Department of Transportation did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment on the proposal.
The Transportation Committee’s top Republican, Rep. John Mica of Florida, panned Oberstar’s plan, calling it a “Band-Aid approach to a critical national transportation infrastructure problem.”
“A knee-jerk reaction to the critical problem facing our transportation and infrastructure systems will only result in a continued failure to address the deteriorating conditions of our highways, ports, airports, and rail systems,” Mica said in a statement. “It’s like owning an 80-year old house that has serious problems with the plumbing, the heating, the foundation, and a leaking roof, and saying you’re going to fix the driveway.”
He called instead for the development of a national strategic transportation plan.
for the complete the article
http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=23096§ion=News
Oberstar wants 5-cents-a-gallon gas tax hike for nation’s bridges
AP Associated Press
Published Thursday, August 09, 2007
WASHINGTON — House Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Oberstar on Wednesday proposed a temporary gas tax increase of 5 cents a gallon, that would pay for a new trust fund to repair, replace and rehabilitate structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System.
Oberstar, D-Minn., made the proposal as part of a plan aimed at fixing such bridges and preventing a repeat of last week’s bridge collapse in Minneapolis, which killed at least five people and injured about 100.
But it got an immediate cold shoulder from the committee’s top Republican
The trust fund would be modeled on the federal Highway Trust Fund, which pays for building and repairing roads and bridges through the gasoline tax. Money in the new trust fund could not be used for any other purpose than bridges.
At a news conference announcing the plan just upstream from the bridge collapse site, Oberstar said he was confident he could get support from the Bush administration.
“Governor (Tim) Pawlenty has had a conversion, and I expect the president will as well,” Oberstar said. “At least we’ll give him that opportunity.”
Last week, the Minnesota governor said he is willing to reverse his long-standing opposition to a state gas tax increase.
“If you’re not prepared to invest another five cents in bridge reconstruction and road reconstruction,” Oberstar said, “then God help you.”
Oberstar’s plan is to increase the gas tax, which is currently 18.3 cents a gallon, for three years, which he said would bring in about $25 billion in additional revenue.
The U.S. Department of Transportation did not immediately return phone and e-mail messages seeking comment on the proposal.
The Transportation Committee’s top Republican, Rep. John Mica of Florida, panned Oberstar’s plan, calling it a “Band-Aid approach to a critical national transportation infrastructure problem.”
“A knee-jerk reaction to the critical problem facing our transportation and infrastructure systems will only result in a continued failure to address the deteriorating conditions of our highways, ports, airports, and rail systems,” Mica said in a statement. “It’s like owning an 80-year old house that has serious problems with the plumbing, the heating, the foundation, and a leaking roof, and saying you’re going to fix the driveway.”
He called instead for the development of a national strategic transportation plan.
for the complete the article
http://www.wctrib.com/articles/index.cfm?id=23096§ion=News