President Donald Trump says he’s open to the idea of raising the U.S. gas tax and using the money for infrastructure improvements.
“It’s something that I would certainly consider,” Trump said in an interview Monday in the Oval Office with Bloomberg News.
Trump said truckers support increasing the federal gas tax “if we earmarked money toward the highways,” according to Bloomberg.
The federal per-gallon taxes of 18.4 cents on gasoline and 24.4 cents on diesel haven’t been raised since 1993, notes Bloomberg. But at least 40 states have hiked their fuel levies since then.
Increasing the gas tax, or tying the rate to inflation, has historically been an idea opposed by Republicans, notes NBC News.
White House communications director Sean Spicer says the president isn’t committing to a hike in the gas tax, but is simply keeping an open mind “out of respect” for trucking-industry interests, reports Bloomberg.
How to save money on gas
No matter how much you’re forking over for a gallon of gas, there are ways to save money at the pump. For example, you may want to consider joining a warehouse club. In “5 Ways to Slash the Cost of Gas,” Money Talks News contributor Melissa Neiman writes:
Warehouse clubs such as Costco, BJs and Sam’s Club all sell gas to members, and it is often — though not always — among the lowest-priced in town
Neiman also recommends using a smartphone app — like GasBuddy or GasGuru — to help you locate the cheapest gas station in town to fill up your car.
Another easy way to save money at the pump is to pass up the premium gas. Get more information in “U.S. Drivers Waste Billions on Expensive Premium Gas.”
What do you think of a potential hike on the federal gas tax? Sound off below or on Facebook.
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