Senators Propose 12 Cent Gas Tax Increase

I don't know who these guys are talking to, but two U.S. Senators have unveiled a bipartisan plan to raise the federal gasoline tax for the first time in more than 20 years.

Don't these idiots see prices already going up as a result of the turmoil in Iraq. The timing on this proposal is simply astonishing. But Senators Chris Murphy, D-Conn., and Bob Corker, R-Tenn. want to raise the 18.4 cents-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4 cents-a-gallon diesel tax by 12 cents each over the next two years. It would be applied over two years.

Now this plan does call for offsetting the increases with other tax cuts. We asked Louisiana Senator David Vitter what he thought of the proposal and he said the only way he would support it is if it includes federal tax breaks that expired this year.

Supporters say this measure is the answer to concerns about the dwindling federal Highway Trust Fund. Does it have any chance of passing? No not likely in this politically charged election year, but just to think about it makes me so angry.

The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents, but we also pay a gas tax to the state. Check out how much Louisiana other states collect on fuel.