More For More?

December 9, 2009

Would you back higher gas taxes for better roads? 11:41 AM Wed, Dec 09, 2009 | Permalink Rodger Jones/Editorial Writer Bio | E-mail | Suggest a blog topic

If so, you're in a small minority of about 15 percent, according to a new Rasmussen Reports survey that's posted on the Transportation Blog.

Top-line question:

Americans pay a federal tax of 18.4 cents on each gallon of gas to help fund transportation projects. Should the government raise the gas tax to help meet new transportation needs?
15% Yes
74% No
10% Not sure

Reader comments range from the sublime to this, from Dostoyevsky:

"I'd rather spend my money on alcohol, cigarettes, junk food, and concert tickets than on taxes. I won't live long enough to drive on the new roads anyway."

Chris W. is on the other end of the spectrum, saying:

"So people want to go places but they don't want to pay for it. The same guys complaining about roads not being there or too much traffic that complain about raising the out of date gas-tax. I think the cost of not doing anything costs more than the cost of doing something about."

Join the debate over on the Dallas Transportation Blog.