Broun rejects efforts to raise taxes on gas

Broun: "The problem is not that gasoline is taxed too little; it is already taxed too much."

Congressman Paul Broun today rejected Democratic plans to increase taxes on gasoline by 50 cents a gallon. Rep. John Dingell (D) of Michigan, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, is currently drafting a proposal to increases taxes on motorists. Chairman Dingell intends to introduce this legislation after the November elections.

"Americans are already paying record prices at the pumps and the Democrats want to add 50 cents a gallon to the cost," said Broun. "As someone who ran a house call medical practice by traveling throughout the 10th District in my truck, I understand the pain that consumers feel at the pump every time the price increases. The problem is not that gasoline is taxed too little; it is already taxed too much. Georgia's drivers, and the American economy, would be better served by a Congress that wanted to lower the federal tax on gasoline instead of increasing it."

Under current law, the federal government imposes an 18.4 cent per gallon tax on regular and unleaded gasoline, and a 24.4 cent per gallon tax on diesel fuel. Dingell's proposal, if enacted, would result in consumers paying 68.4 cents in federal taxes for every gallon of regular or unleaded gasoline they purchase, and 74.4 cents for every gallon of diesel fuel.