No Gas Tax Hike, Says LaHood

The Obama administration does not favor raising the federal tax on motor vehicle fuels as a way to bolster highway spending accounts, said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood.

“This administration will not be promoting an increase in the gas tax,” he said in response to questions following a speech at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

LaHood said this is not the time, during an economic downturn, to be talking about raising gas taxes.

But since the Highway Trust Fund receipts are low, he said “we need to think outside the box” on ways to fund needed projects, and explore such things as an infrastructure bank, tolling and joint public-private spending efforts.

Contact John D. Boyd at jboyd@joc.com.