Tea Party Gas-Tax Fix Is Bad Economics, Worse History: Ron Klain

Aug. 23 (Bloomberg) -- If the debt-ceiling showdown madeyour blood boil, if the shutdown of air-traffic-control workrelated to the airline-ticket tax drove you crazy, then youshould unplug your TV and power down your computer in lateSeptember, as the deadline for extension of the federal gasolinetax draws near.

Because while President Barack Obama and most experts arepushing for a greater federal investment in roads andinfrastructure to create jobs and strengthen our economy, agrowing minority in Washington wants to end the federal gas taxand phase out funding for new construction under the federalroads program. That’s right: A sizable chunk of Republicans, ledby Senator Tom Coburn of Oklahoma and Representative Jeff Flakeof Arizona, want to abolish the tax that pays for the federalhighway program and replace the whole system with one overseenby individual states.