Tom Warne Report, 26 April 2013
A majority of Americans say they will not vote in favor of a new gas tax designed to fund intrastructure repairs and new mass transit, according to a survey released this week by Gallup. The poll found that 66 percent of Americans would say no to a 20-cent-per-gallon state tax that would provide dedicated funding for roads and bridge repairs. In comparison, 3 in 10 respondents said they would approve such a plan.
“It is not clear whether Americans’ lack of support for this proposal stems from the type, amount, or purpose of the tax,” said Gallup’s Alyssa Brown in a statement. “Americans may be opposed to increasing the price of gas – a necessary commodity for many individuals – during a fragile economy, regardless of how the resulting funds are used.”
The National Conference of State Legislatures reports that 17 states are considering or have approved higher tax rates to pay for transportation improvements and mass transit work. Among these is Maryland, where lawmakers last month approved the first gas tax hike in 20 years.