WASHINGTON (Sept. 6, 2016) — State politicians who vote to increase fuel taxes suffer no backlash from voters because of that, according to a new analysis released by the American Road & Transportation Builders Association (ARTBA).
Ninety-eight percent of politicians, both Democrats and Republicans, who voted to increase gas taxes in their states to fund transportation improvements were re-elected, ARTBA said in the analysis issued Sept. 6.
“These results should dispel any notion that voting to increase the state gas tax is politically toxic,” ARTBA Chief Economist Alison Premo Black said.
“Voters expect lawmakers to put forward solutions to help reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety and help grow the economy,” Ms. Black said. “They are also willing to pay for these expanded improvements.”
According to the ARTBA, the analysis was conducted in eight states that voted in higher gas taxes in 2015 — Georgia, Idaho, Iowa, Michigan, Nebraska, South Dakota, Utah and Washington.