Don't You Dare!

Finally! Something we can all agree on.

Fifty-Six Groups, Millions of Citizens Send One Message: Don't Raise the Federal Gas Tax!

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Aug. 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- "Don't you dare!"
That's the stance of 56 organizations representing millions of Americans toward an increase in the federal gasoline excise tax. The coalition, which was organized by the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), delivered its message today in an open letter to Congress and the President.

"Proponents of a federal gas tax increase insist that few would even notice the change in their fuel bills," the letter stated. "In reality ... [t]his is a substantial burden on families trying to make ends meet." The open letter was a response to policymakers who have exploited the bridge tragedy in Minnesota to press for more road funding and higher federal fuel taxes. House Transportation Committee Chair James Oberstar, for example, has discussed a temporary 5-cent-per-gallon increase in the
gas tax.

As the 56 groups note, however, there are reasons other than hardship on taxpayers to oppose such schemes. "Temporary" fuel taxes have taken on lives of their own, such as the 5-cent-per-gallon increase backed by President George H.W. Bush 17 years ago. Nor is lack of money a problem. The 5-year Highway Bill enacted in 2005 represented a 42 percent spending boost over its predecessor. This legislation, combined with the pending Transportation Appropriations Bill, provides over $22 billion for special interest "earmarks" -- nearly as much money as Oberstar's tax would raise.

The diverse list of signatories includes the National Grange, the Family Research Council, the Log Cabin Republicans, and the Islamic Free Market Institute. In addition to national-level citizen groups such as NTU, Americans for Prosperity, and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, grassroots organizations from over 20 states endorsed the open joint statement.

"Instead of resorting so readily to tax hikes, Congress and the Executive Branch should conduct a review to determine which transportation projects are really worth funding and which are unnecessary," the letter concluded. "Elected officials should not be feeding more revenues into the gears of an ever-faster spending machine, and we urge you to oppose any federal gas tax hike."

NTU is a non-partisan citizen group founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes and smaller government. Note: The text of the open letter and a list of signatories are available at http://www.ntu.org.