Updated Report: Tennesseans Face $327 More in Gas Taxes Per Year from Federal Gas Tax Hike Proposal

Apr 11, 2019 by AFP

Grassroots group highlights an updated report that shows how Tennesseans would be affected by a federal gas tax increase

NASHVILLE, TN – Americans for Prosperity today released an updated state-by-state analysis of the real-life consequences of a new, federal 25-cent per gallon tax hike proposal. The release is part of a six-figure campaign across the country advocating solutions for improving America’s infrastructure without imposing new burdens on consumers through tax increases.

According to the findings, Tennessean households could pay on-average $327 more per year at the gas pump.

VIEW State-by-State Analysis of a 25-Cent Per Gallon Federal Gas Tax Increase

Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee State Director Tori Venable issued the following statement:

“Tennesseans just faced a state gas tax hike. Now Congress is considering another 25 cent per gallon increase. Government always finds a need for whatever money it gets, especially when the current funding is misappropriated. Gas tax dollars are still being diverted from actual infrastructure like roads and bridges for bike trails, greenways, and buses. Forcing Tennesseans to pay roughly $327 more every year at the pump will not address the underlying issues cemented in our infrastructure process.”

In addition to the re-release of the state-by-state report, AFP will begin launching digital ads encouraging Rep. Steven Cohen, who sits on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Highway Subcommittee, to oppose any efforts to increase the gas tax and instead prioritize key reforms that will improve our nation’s infrastructure, such as:

Preserving federal infrastructure dollars for targeted construction projects of a national priority;
Unleashing private investment in infrastructure assets;
Returning power and responsibility to the states wherever possible;
Overhauling the regulatory and permitting system to improve outcomes and efficiency; and
Eliminating costly and unfair labor restrictions.

AFP has long maintained that there are better ways to address our nation’s infrastructure challenges than asking taxpayers to reach back into their pockets to funnel more money into a broken system. The economy is booming in large part to the tax and regulatory reforms that Congress and the administration have implemented, and we urge them not to undermine that success by clawing back that tax relief at the gas pump.