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'Dear Colleague' Letter on 'Facts on Gas Tax Repeal'

MAR. 14, 2000

'Dear Colleague' Letter on 'Facts on Gas Tax Repeal'

DATED MAR. 14, 2000
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Shuster, Rep. Bud
    Petri, Rep. Thomas E.
    Oberstar, Rep. James L.
    Rahall, Rep. Nick J., II
  • Institutional Authors
    House of Representatives
    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Cross-Reference
    For prior coverage, see Tax Notes, March 6, 2000, p. 1323, or Tax

    Notes, March 13, 2000, p. 1526.
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Index Terms
    legislation, tax
    tax policy, reform
    tax relief
    excise taxes
    gasoline tax
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2000-7744 (6 original pages)
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2000 TNT 52-8

 

=============== FULL TEXT ===============

 

COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE

 

 

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 

 

March 14, 2000

 

 

Dear Colleague:

[1] Attached is a Committee white paper describing the effects of a 4.3 cents-per-gallon fuel tax repeal, which has been proposed by some in Congress in response to the recent sharp increases in fuel prices.

[2] We agree on the need to address the problem of rising fuel prices. But repeal of the fuel tax is the wrong way to go.

o It will not likely result in lower prices for the consumer.

 

 

o It will do nothing to correct the root cause of the problem --

 

the OPEC cartel's decision to reduce oil supply.

 

 

o It will have a devastating impact on our Nation's highway,

 

highway safety, transit and aviation programs.

 

 

[3] Instead, we must find a way to ensure an adequate supply of oil. And if we want to find a way to really help consumers, we must find a way that works.

[4] We hope you will find the information in the attached white paper helpful as you consider this most important issue.

Sincerely,

 

 

BUD SHUSTER

 

Chairman

 

 

THOMAS E. PETRI

 

Chairman

 

Ground Transportation Subcommittee

 

 

JAMES L. OBERSTAR

 

Ranking Democratic Member

 

 

NICK J. RAHALL, II

 

Ranking Democratic Member

 

Ground Transportation Subcommittee

 

 

* * * * *

 

 

THE IMPACT OF REDUCING

 

THE FEDERAL FUEL TAX ON TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS

 

 

March 14, 2000

 

 

Introduction

[5] In 1993 Congress approved a 4.3 cent per gallon increase in the Federal excise tax on all fuels used in transportation. This tax was in addition to the taxes already imposed on fuels.

[6] The tax is imposed on aviation fuel, fuels used in automobiles and trucks, and diesel fuel used by railroads and the barge industry.

[7] Some have proposed repealing the 1993 tax increase to help offset the recent increases in the price of gasoline, diesel, and aviation fuel.

[8] This paper explains the consequences for Federal transportation programs of repealing this tax.

History Of The 4.3 Cent Tax

[9] When the tax was originally imposed in 1993, all the revenues were dedicated to the General Fund. Now, the overwhelming majority of the revenue goes into trust funds for infrastructure investment.

[10] In 1997, Congress transferred the revenue from the taxes imposed on highway users to the Highway Trust Fund to help pay for highway and transit infrastructure, and for highway safety programs. The 4.3 cent tax on gasoline and diesel brings in $7.2 billion to the Highway Trust Fund annually -- $5.8 billion for highways and $1.4 billion for transit.

[11] In 1997, Congress also transferred the revenue from the aviation fuel tax into the Airport and Airway Trust Fund to support aviation programs. It brings in about $700 million per year.

[12] The taxes paid by railroads and the barge industry still goes into the General Fund. The revenue amounts to about $190 million per year.

A Tax Cut Does Not Mean Lower Prices At The Pump

[13] There is no guarantee that prices at the pump would fall if the tax were cut -- especially in the short term.

[14] The Federal tax is not actually imposed at the pump; it is collected shortly after it leaves the refinery. The fuel can pass through several middlemen before it reaches the consumer. None of these middlemen would have to pass along the savings. The reduced tax could simply be kept by those supplying the fuel.

[15] Past experience has shown that as the wholesale cost of fuel goes up, prices at the pump increase. However, decreases in the wholesale price -- or in the fuel tax -- have not been passed on to the motorists or truckers as consistently.

[16] Several years ago, Connecticut reduced their State fuel tax but it did not translate into a price cut for the consumer. As the Hartford Courant noted in 1997, after prices failed to come down:

"Gas taxes and prices are not connected in an ironclad way. The

 

tax can be cut, but the benefits to consumers will be swallowed

 

up in higher prices at the pump. In the future, the governor and

 

legislature should build tax policy on a firmer foundation."

 

 

[17] Even if the reduced tax were reflected at the pump, a reduction of 4.3 cents -- when gasoline could cost $2 a gallon by the summer -- is only about a two percent reduction. This translates into less than a dollar per week for the average consumer.

[18] Furthermore, some States have laws that automatically increase the State tax if the Federal tax is reduced. In such States, there would be no tax savings to pass along.

Cutting The Tax Makes Little Economic Sense

[19] Supply and demand are the basic determinants of the price of gasoline, not a few cents of a Federal excise tax. Reducing a Federal tax will do nothing to increase the supply and therefore lower the price.

[20] In fact, reducing the tax is counterproductive because reducing a portion of the price without increasing the availability of crude oil makes it easier for OPEC to keep prices high.

The Impact On The Federal Highway And Transit Programs

[21] Since the revenue from this tax is used for infrastructure and transportation safety programs, cutting it would reduce Federal support for these programs.

[22] In 1998, Congress passed the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA 21) that established a direct link between the funds deposited in the Highway Trust Fund and the funding returned to States and cities for highways and transit. In recent years, this has meant increased funding for the States and cities since receipts have been higher than expected. Under TEA 21, all highway programs -- highway construction, highway safety, transportation enhancements, and high-priority projects -- are decreased proportionally if tax revenues fall short.

[23] According to the Department of Transportation, if the 4.3 cent gas tax repeal were to take effect on July 1 of this year, the highway program would be cut by $20.5 billion through FY 2003 -- the final year of TEA 21; $18.9 billion of that cut would translate into automatic cuts to the State formula funds (the attached table shows the cut by State). The remainder of the funding does not go the States by formula.

[24] The transit program would face similar devastating cuts. The Mass Transit Account of the Highway Trust Fund (which supports transit) would go broke in 2003. Continuing the transit program at the TEA 21 funding levels would not be possible after TEA 21 expires in 2003.

[25] States and cities that have bonded their anticipated future Federal highway and transit funds to support transportation projects would have to cut programs even further.

Program Cuts Will Affect Safety

[26] About 12,000 highway deaths per year are due to unsafe highway conditions. If the cuts are made, many road improvement projects would have to be put on hold.

[27] Programs to fight drunk driving, encourage seatbelt use, and hire truck safety inspectors would also have to be cut.

Jobs Would Be Lost

[28] According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, a billion dollars of highway spending supports about 42,000 jobs.

[29] Therefore, an average of 420,000 high-paying jobs would be lost in each of years 2002 and 2003, for a total of 840,000 jobs over the two years. There would also be lost sales of construction equipment and materials.

The Problem With Using The General Fund To Make Up For The Shortfall In The Trust Funds

[30] In effect, this means using most of the current non-Social Security budget surplus for transportation. This surplus is not then available for other priorities that Congress may want to fund or for tax cuts. It doesn't make sense to replace a successful user fee with a broad-based tax.

[31] This option also puts the highway, highway safety, and transit programs at risk when they are reauthorized by Congress in 2003 since the funding levels in TEA 21 will not be sustainable without a tax increase or continued transfers from the General Fund.

Solutions

[32] The primary problem is lack of supply -- not the Federal tax. The OPEC countries have reduced production which has resulted in constricted supplies and higher prices. Worldwide production must be increased in order for prices in the United States to come down.

[33] Options include: putting pressure on oil producing countries to increase production; increasing domestic production; releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; allowing truckers to set rates that automatically adjust when fuel prices increase; increasing use of alternative fuels; and, providing direct tax credits to small businesses -- such as independent truckers -- impacted disproportionately by increased fuel costs.

The Effect On Aviation Programs

[34] The 4.3 cent tax on aviation fuel raises about $700 million annually for the aviation trust fund.

[35] The Senate just passed the Conference Report on the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21) last week and it is scheduled to come up in the House this week. AIR 21 guarantees that airport improvements and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) modernization are fully funded from the taxes and interest deposited in the Aviation Trust Fund. The remaining taxes and interest are available to pay for the operating expenses of the FAA. Reducing the tax, therefore, means that the General Fund contribution for FAA operations must be increased.

[36] For the time period of fiscal years 2001 to 2003, the aviation trust fund would lose $2.1 billion.

         LOSS OF HIGHWAY FUNDS TO THE STATES IN 2002 & 2003

 

               DUE TO REPEAL OF 4.3 CENT IN FUEL TAXES

 

                           ($ in millions)

 

 

                            2002            2003          Total

 

State                    State Loss      State Loss     State Loss

 

 

Alabama                     137.3           237.6           374.9

 

Alaska                       80.7           139.7           220.4

 

Arizona                     112.3           194.3           306.6

 

Arkansas                     89.5           154.9           244.4

 

California                  637.1         1,102.0         1,739.1

 

Colorado                     79.1           136.8           215.9

 

Connecticut                 102.9           178.0           280.9

 

Delaware                     30.0            51.9            81.8

 

Dist. of Col.                26.8            46.4            73.2

 

Florida                     327.1           565.8           892.9

 

Georgia                     241.7           418.1           659.8

 

Hawaii                       35.1            60.7            95.8

 

Idaho                        52.3            90.5           142.8

 

Illinois                    229.2           396.4           625.5

 

Indiana                     161.1           278.6           439.7

 

Iowa                         81.4           140.9           222.3

 

Kansas                       79.4           137.3           216.7

 

Kentucky                    122.3           211.5           333.8

 

Louisiana                   108.7           188.1           296.8

 

Maine                        35.7            61.7            97.3

 

Maryland                    111.6           193.1           304.7

 

Massachusetts               126.3           218.5           344.7

 

Michigan                    223.1           385.9           609.0

 

Minnesota                   101.6           175.7           277.3

 

Mississippi                  85.2           147.3           232.5

 

Missouri                    168.5           291.5           460.0

 

Montana                      67.3           116.4           183.6

 

Nebraska                     52.6            91.0           143.7

 

Nevada                       49.1            85.0           134.1

 

New Hampshire                35.0            60.5            95.5

 

New Jersey                  182.5           315.7           498.1

 

New Mexico                   67.0           115.8           182.8

 

New York                    349.8           605.1           954.9

 

North Carolina              191.9           332.0           523.9

 

North Dakota                 44.4            76.8           121.2

 

Ohio                        237.6           411.0           648.6

 

Oklahoma                    104.9           181.4           286.3

 

Oregon                       82.6           142.8           225.4

 

Pennsylvania                338.0           584.7           922.7

 

Rhode Island                 40.4            69.8           110.2

 

South Carolina              113.5           196.3           309.7

 

South Dakota                 48.4            83.8           132.2

 

Tennessee                   157.1           271.7           428.7

 

Texas                       517.9           895.9         1,413.8

 

Utah                         55.0            95.1           150.1

 

Vermont                      31.0            53.6            84.6

 

Virginia                    177.7           307.3           485.0

 

Washington                  121.1           209.5           330.6

 

West Virginia                76.7           132.7           209.4

 

Wisconsin                   134.9           233.4           368.4

 

Wyoming                      47.1            81.5           128.6

 

 

                          6,909.2        11,951.7        18,860.9

 

 

Note: Amounts shown above assume repeal of 4.3 cent per gallon fuel tax effective July 1, 2000. Although highway funding is tied to fuel tax revenues, there is a time lag between when a fuel tax reduction occurs and when the reduction would translate into decreased highway funding. Therefore, highway funding would begin to be reduced in fiscal year 2002. Funding loss estimates provided by U.S. Department of Transportation.
DOCUMENT ATTRIBUTES
  • Authors
    Shuster, Rep. Bud
    Petri, Rep. Thomas E.
    Oberstar, Rep. James L.
    Rahall, Rep. Nick J., II
  • Institutional Authors
    House of Representatives
    Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
  • Cross-Reference
    For prior coverage, see Tax Notes, March 6, 2000, p. 1323, or Tax

    Notes, March 13, 2000, p. 1526.
  • Code Sections
  • Subject Area/Tax Topics
  • Index Terms
    legislation, tax
    tax policy, reform
    tax relief
    excise taxes
    gasoline tax
  • Jurisdictions
  • Language
    English
  • Tax Analysts Document Number
    Doc 2000-7744 (6 original pages)
  • Tax Analysts Electronic Citation
    2000 TNT 52-8
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