Highway Trust Fund

Washington’s Theater of Infrastructure: The Trick Is To Get The Joke

Yesterday was a classic example of Washington theater at its best. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer left a White House...

May 1, 2019Howard Gleckman

Individual Taxes: TaxVox

Is The US Ready For A Gas Tax Increase?

Is The US Ready For A Gas Tax Increase? House Democrats are talking enthusiastically about passing a big infrastructure bill by summer. President Trump keeps...

March 12, 2019Howard Gleckman

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Is Infrastructure A Bridge Too Far?

President Trump wants to do something about infrastructure. As a presidential candidate, he decried the state of American roads, bridges, transit, and airports, comparing the...

December 5, 2017Tracy Gordon

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

The Highway Bill Takes Congress on a FAST Track to More Debt

Sometime within the next few days, Congress will pass, with great fanfare, what it proudly calls a $305 billion, five-year transportation bill . But while the measure will authorize much needed infrastructure spending, it won’t pay for much of it. More than one-third of the $305 billion would

December 3, 2015Howard Gleckman

: TaxVox

Dreaming Impossible Dreams

The House may have a bipartisan transportation bill. The measure would authorize highway spending for another six years. But while it sets $325 billion in infrastructure spending over six years, it guarantees only the first three years of funding. The last three years? Congress would have to “

October 19, 2015Renu Zaretsky

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

Five Tax Stories To Watch in What Will Be a Wild Fall in Congress and on the Campaign Trail

Congress is back. Fiscal deadlines loom. Presidential candidates have tax plans to propose. It isn’t clear how much lawmakers will accomplish in the next four months, but it will be a busy and interesting fall. Here are five stories to watch: International Tax Reform : House Republicans insist they

September 8, 2015Howard Gleckman

Federal Budget and Economy: TaxVox

How Did the Gas Tax Lose Its Mojo, Even Among Conservatives?

With just a few days left before federal funding for highway programs expires, the Senate is debating all sorts of amendments to an extension-- from export subsidies to the Affordable Care Act. But there is one subject it will not debate—the gas tax. Except for a handful of lawmakers, nobody in

July 27, 2015Howard Gleckman

: TaxVox

Highway Follies: The Never-ending Story

The House has a short-term patch for the Highway Trust Fund… Late Monday night, the House Ways & Means Committee released a plan to cover the Highway Trust Fund with $8.1 billion through mid-December 2015. The patch would use revenue collected by tightening IRS compliance rules. The House could

July 15, 2015Renu Zaretsky

: TaxVox

Six-Year Road Funding, Renewals on Repeat, and Investigations

Highway funding: Will the House GOP play the long game? Ways & Means Chair Paul Ryan wants to pair international tax changes with six-year funding for highways, and he wants it done this year . To buy time to flesh out his plan to use revenue from a one-time tax on foreign profits of US

July 13, 2015Renu Zaretsky

: Daily Deduction

“Take me home, country road… To a fund (and a country), that’s not broke.”

Greece: "Ne" to new sales taxes and (maybe) tax reform. The beleaguered Greek government has offered a new reform plan in return for $55 billion in European Union bailout money—and it reportedly includes new sales taxes, new levies on cafes and restaurants (read: tourists) and possible tax reform,

July 10, 2015Renu Zaretsky