Pete Buttigieg: Massive Gasoline Tax Hikes Are ‘on the Table’ Under Biden
Biden's secretary of transportation nominee admits higher taxes 'possible'
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Joe Biden's secretary of transportation nominee Pete Buttigieg has admitted to a Senate panel that massive tax hikes on gasoline are now "on the table."
Buttigieg, the former South Bend (Indiana) mayor and failed Democrat presidential candidate, told senators that a rise in taxes on fuel is one possible revenue burden now facing American motorists.
The revelation came after Republican Sen. Rick Scott of Florida grilled Buttigieg about possible tax hikes during his confirmation hearing.
"I think all options need to be on the table,” Buttigieg admitted to the panel, according to Roll Call.
"As you know, the gas tax has not been increased since 1993, and it’s never been pegged to inflation," he added.
"That is one of the reasons why the current state of the Highway Trust Fund is that there’s more going out than coming in.”
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Sen. Scott (R-FL) slammed Buttigieg and Biden's administration for forcing the American public to foot the bill for wasteful government spending.
WATCH:
Yesterday, @USDOT nominee @PeteButtigieg said he's open to raising the gas tax on the American people to pay for government’s wasteful spending. There is absolutely NO reason we should be placing that burden on taxpayers. Watch more below: pic.twitter.com/n8FEj32BkO
— Rick Scott (@SenRickScott) January 22, 2021
Later in the hearing, Buttigieg told Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah it was “possible” the gas tax could increase.
“Certainly many states have taken that step, including my own,” Buttigieg said, according to Roll Call.
"But it’s not the only approach."
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Prices for gasoline do vary around the country.
However, no change has ever been met with universal acclamation.
The federal gasoline tax is 18.4 cents per gallon.
Washington state is debating a proposal to peg the gas tax at 67.4 cents per gallon.
The move would make it the highest in the nation, according to The Associated Press.
