Fuel Tax Holiday

The Congressional Research Service has issued a nonpartisan report on the impact of suspending the federal fuel tax as a way of providing releif to consumers facing record gas prices.

They note that it is unlikely that consumers will see the reduction at the pump. It hasn't worked when it's been tried at the state level. The impact will be most negative on the necessary transportation infrastructure projects that will be delayed because the fuel tax funds the federal transportation trust fund. The fund is already facing a negative balance next fiscal year.

The trust fund would then be a likely target for more good causes in the future. We need a reliable source of income for transportation and other infrastructure projects. As we have seen when the authorization bill for transportation projects has been delayed in Congress, Connecticut projects are delayed and costs increase.

A gas tax holiday is a bad idea. Politicians should resist the temptation to sacrifice our infrastructure for an ineffective political gesture.