Congress Unlikely to Pass an Increase in Federal Gas Tax This Year

In a speech Thursday to the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, the Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, Rep. Bill Shuster (R-PA), said that the Congress is unlikely to pass an increase in the federal gas tax this year. Chairman Shuster (R-PA) said a deal to boost U.S. infrastructure funding will likely have to find an alternative source of revenue, potentially as part of a broader tax reform package, because the tax hike won’t pass muster with members of Congress. “I know the popular thing that a lot of people are talking about is the gas tax. But I just don’t believe the votes are there in the Congress at this point to do that,” Shuster said. Lawmakers have expressed new hope for an infrastructure funding deal in recent weeks as gas prices across the U.S. have dropped sharply.