Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 5, 2015. Yesterday, Representative Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), with the support of leaders in the fields of transportation, labor, commerce, and construction, introduced HR 680 to allow passage of the first comprehensive, six year transportation bill since 1997. HR 680: The Update, Promote, and Develop America’s Transportation Essentials (UPDATE) Act would phase in a nickel a gallon tax increase over each of the next three years on gasoline and diesel. Of all the proposals being circulated on Capitol Hill, this is simplest, easiest to pass, and the only one giving long term stability. Blumenauer will speak with this diverse cross section of groups at a press conference today highlighting the momentum behind such a proposal. As President Reagan said when he led a similar effort in 1982, it won’t increase the deficit or increase taxes due on April 15. Instead, it will be paid for by the gas tax user fee that has supported the Highway Trust Fund since 1956.
