Drumbeat: February 18, 2013

theoildrum.com 18 Feb '13, 3pm

Drumbeat: February 18, 2013

Governments are struggling with good news that has a fiscal downside. Cars are becoming more efficient, alternative fuels are on the rise and people are driving less. That is good for the environment, but bad for the revenues that go into building and maintaining roads, because it means that the money collected from gasoline taxes has been dwindling while costs climb. Fuel taxes provide some 40 percent of state highway revenues and 92 percent of the federal highway trust fund, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. But the funds, squeezed by fuel economy, are not keeping up with the nation’s infrastructure needs. Moreover, according to figures collected by the organization, only about a dozen states tie their tax to inflation, which means that the revenue loses ground every year. Seventeen states have not raised their gas taxes in at least 20 years; on...

Full article: http://www.theoildrum.com/node/9840

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@entropy1234 » 19 Feb '13, 2am
The latest Drumbeat from TOD. Interesting discussion - arguably marred by radiation hysteria. [link]
@GroenWerkt » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
#oildr Drumbeat: February 18, 2013 #mlfeeds: Governments Look for New Ways to Pay for Roads and Bridges Governm... [link]
@MetGloEn » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
RT @TheOilDrum: Drumbeat: February 18, 2013 [link]
@jvogler » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
Drumbeat: February 18, 2013: Governments Look for New Ways to Pay for Roads and Bridges Governments are struggl... [link]
@openib » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
Drumbeat: February 18, 2013: Governments Look for New Ways to Pay for Roads and Bridges Governments are... [link] #iSolar
@bigpicturetv » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
The Oil Drum: Drumbeat: February 18, 2013: Governments Look for New Ways to Pay for Roads and Bridges Governmen... [link]
@bestofscience » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
Drumbeat: February 18, 2013: Governments Look for New Ways to Pay for Roads and Bridges Governments are struggl... [link]
@ewana_ew » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
Drumbeat: February 18, 2013 [link]
@TheOilDrum » 18 Feb '13, 3pm
Drumbeat: February 18, 2013 [link]