Will Congress Finally Raise The Gas Tax?

"The nation's roads and rails need repair. Congress will find how badly the infrastructure has crumbled and how much money is needed to upgrade and expand the country's existing system on Tuesday.

A Senate subcommittee will hear the findings of a January report by on the state of the nation's surface infrastructure system and recommended funding options.

The 20-month study by the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission paints a dismal picture of the nation's infrastructure system with roads, bridges and highways, passenger and freight rail services rapidly deteriorating with limited funding resources to pay for necessary repairs and upgrades.

The findings and recommendations by the 12-member commission, which were supported by nine of the commissioners, is expected to re-ignite political debate over raising gasoline taxes. Recent efforts by Congress to increase it have faltered, in part due to objections by the Bush administration."