April 1, 2019 11:01AM 

# Reporters Accept Illogical Gas Tax Narrative 

By [Chris Edwards](https://www.cato.org/people/chris-edwards) 

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Here is the framing of countless news articles on infrastructure: the streets have potholes; the federal gas tax has not been increased since 1993; experts are quite sure we need a federal hike; the states have increased their own gas taxes; only misguided fears of a public backlash stand in the way.

Reporters should be more skeptical about this lobbyist-driven narrative. Here is my unpublished letter to the *Wall Street Journal* in response to [their latest story](https://www.wsj.com/articles/gas-tax-hike-a-rare-big-idea-with-bipartisan-backing-11553086670) following the pro-tax script.

> Gerald Seib is right that there is some bipartisan support for a federal gas tax increase and that the tax was last raised in 1993.
> 
> 
> However, Seib’s article also reveals why a federal hike makes no sense: “Since 1993, 39 states have voted to raise state fuel taxes.” States can raise funding for their own highways whenever they want, and state funding makes more sense than rule-laden and pork-barrel federal funding. Virtually all highways—including the Interstates—are owned by the states, and with ownership comes responsibility.
> 
> 
> Lastly, note that while the federal gas tax has been flat at 18.4 cents per gallon since 1993, it had more than quadrupled from 4 cents per gallon in 1983. The 1983 rate is equal to 10.3 cents in today’s dollars, so there has been a substantial real increase in the gas tax rate since then.

I have added a title to the *Journal’s* photo.

**This Is a Local Government Responsibility**

![Media Name: wsj_gas_1.png](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/pubs_2x/public/wp-content/uploads/wsj_gas_1.png?itok=1F8fZcJY) 

More:

[Gas tax diversions](https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/highways-and-gas-tax-diversions)

[Federal gas tax increase not needed](https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/federal-gas-tax-increase-not-needed)

[Chamber of Commerce wrong on gas tax](https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/chamber-commerce-misguided-gas-tax)

[Highways background](https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/transportation/federal-highway-policies)

[Infrastructure background](https://www.downsizinggovernment.org/infrastructure-investment)

##### Related Tags 

[Tax and Budget Policy](https://www.cato.org/tax-budget-policy), [Department of Transportation](https://www.cato.org/department-transportation), [Downsizing Government](https://www.cato.org/downsizing-government) 

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