The clutch of Republican senators signaling an openness to raising the federal gas tax just as prices are finally dropping has sparked angry shouts of “betrayal” by conservatives, led by the 7.1 million-member ForAmerica and the Americans for Tax Reform.
“It is appalling that there are Republicans actually considering this. It’s a betrayal of the pledges they made to their constituents,” said ForAmerica Chairman Brent Bozell.
“Is this a joke?” he added.
Many Republican activists and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce back a tax hike to fix problem roads, bridges, and other transportation infrastructure.
Some believe that the dramatic drop in gas prices over the past few months is a good time to raise the fee because it wouldn’t impact drivers like it would have when prices were hovering well over $3 a gallon.
But even liberals like President Obama have warned that low gas prices are temporary, and conservatives like Bozell want to remind lawmakers, namely Sens. John Thune of South Dakota, Orrin Hatch of Utah and James Inhofe of Oklahoma.
The tax could come at a bad time as many states, including Maryland and Virginia, have just instituted new fuel pump taxes.
“Just as the American consumer is finally, finally getting some relief at the gas pump, along come the feds to hit us with more taxes. It is appalling that there are Republicans actually considering this. It’s a betrayal of the pledges they made to their constituents. Rather than increasing the financial burden on hard-working Americans, Republicans should look to conservative solutions proposed by their own colleagues,” said Bozell.
Bozell backs a plan by Sen. Mike Lee of Utah to shift highway control to states.
“This is a conservative, common sense solution that the GOP should embrace. If the GOP supports a gas tax on the American people, then Republicans will have sent a clear signal that they are officially a tax and spend party,” he said.
ForAmerica describes itself as an online army of over 7.1 million people.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected].
