WASHINGTON – The National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, which spent the last 22 months exploring new ways for the United States to pay for its transportation needs, is recommending that the current 18.4 cents per gallon gasoline tax increase by 25 to 40 cents in five years. 

According to Congress Daily, nine of the 12 commissioners support the federal gasoline tax increase, noting it has not been raised since 1993. “We believe it can be raised if you go to the people with a clear mission with what it's going to be used for,” said Jack Schenendorf, vice chairman of the panel, adding that the tax increase would cost motorists between 41 cents and 66 cents a day.

The three panelists opposed the tax increase, including current U.S. Transportation Secretary Peters, former deputy Transportation Secretary Maria Cino and Cornell University professor Rick Geddes, also dissented on the recommendation that the federal government continue to contribute 40 percent of the revenue needed for transportation infrastructure, writes Congress Daily. “The public correctly understands that increased fuel taxes will not remedy the woefully inadequate transportation system performance they so frequently experience today,” the dissenters wrote.

The recommendation to boost the gasoline tax was also panned by some Republicans, notes the news source. “While I respect their hard work and efforts, the Commission’s recommendation of a dramatic increase in the gas tax does not stand a snowball’s chance in hell of passing Congress,” House Transportation and Infrastructure ranking member John Mica (R-FL) said in a statement.

Congress Daily also noted that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on the panel’s recommendations on Thursday and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee is planning to hold a hearing next week.