Norquist Says He Will Not Block Extension of Federal Fuel Taxes

Anti-tax advocate Grover Norquist said he will not try to get federal fuel taxes eliminated during the expected congressional debate in September over whether to extend the nation’s transportation spending plan, Bloomberg reported.

Eliminating the federal 18.45-cent gasoline tax and the 24.4-cent diesel tax will take two to five years, said Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform.

Norquist recently told Transport Topics his next big campaign will be to roll back the fuel taxes and shift transportation decisions to the states.

Norquist told Bloomberg a vote to temporarily extend the transportation authorization plan that expired two years ago would not violate the no-tax pledges that he has required of Republican House members.

If Congress does not vote for an extension by Sept. 30, the government could not collect fuel taxes, potentially shutting down thousands of highway projects.