New Transpo Chairman Bill Shuster Won’t Rule Out Gas Tax Increase

From the Transport Topics editorial page:

It’s nice to hear from the new chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee that he recognizes what dire straits the Highway Trust Fund is in and that he’s open to all suggestions as to how to fix it.

While Rep. Bill Shuster (R-Pa.) isn’t the only legislator to recognize the problems with the fund, his open mind inspires hope that Congress is finally ready to give a number of ideas a good, hard look.

American Trucking Associations continues to believe that raising the federal fuel tax is still the best and least complicated fix. But it has been hard to get Congress or the White House to even consider it, because of the stigma attached to raising any tax lately.

“Everything needs to be on the table,” Shuster told Transport Topics last week during an interview. He said he “is willing to discuss anything” that can meet the nation’s need for expanding and repairing its transportation infrastructure.