Rep. DeFazio Comments on a Federal Gas Tax Increase

Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) recently discussed the possibility of a federal gas tax increase in an interview. Rep. DeFazio, the ranking member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, stated that there would not be a gas tax increase in 2018. Rep. DeFazio stated, “Speaker [Paul] Ryan is opposed to any increase in user fees of any support and any additional increase in transportation infrastructure. As long as he’s the speaker, I don’t see any meaningful legislation to fund surface transportation legislation moving through the House of Representatives.” However, if the Democrats take back the House, Rep. DeFazio thinks that a federal gas tax increase could be in play and could help fund the next surface transportation bill.

Many Democrats support an increase in the gas tax and a few Republicans, including President Trump, are open to discussing it. However, with a Republican majority in Congress, the tax will likely not be raised anytime soon. Interest groups are divided on the issue as well, with the Chamber of Commerce and American Trucking Associations being in support of a gas tax increase and groups like Freedom Partners and Americans for Prosperity being in opposition to a gas tax increase.