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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">NEW POLL OVERVIEW:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">In a bipartisan move two United States senators have unveiled a plan to raise the federal gasoline and diesel taxes for the first time in more than two decades, pitching the proposal as a solution to Congress</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">'</span><span style="font-size: xx-large;">&nbsp;struggle to pay for highway and transit programs.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">The plan would raise the 18.4-cents-a-gallon federal gas tax and 24.4-cents-a- gallon diesel tax by 12 cents each over the next two years, and then index the taxes to keep pace with inflation.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">The plan also calls for offsetting the tax increases with other taxes cuts. Senators said that could be done by permanently extending six federal tax breaks that expired this year, but they indicated they would be open to other suggestions for offsets.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">The federal Highway Trust Fund that pays for highway and transit aid is forecast to go broke by late August. Revenue from gas taxes and other transportation user fees that go into the fund haven&rsquo;t kept pace with federal aid promised to states. People are driving less per capita and cars are more fuel efficient, keeping revenues fairly flat. But nation&rsquo;s infrastructure is aging, creating greater demand for new and rebuilt roads and bridges. At the same time, the cost of construction has increased.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Since 2008, Congress has repeatedly dipped into the general treasury for money to keep the trust fund solvent, sometimes waiting until the government was the verge of slowing down payments to states. States have complained that the uncertainty over whether federal aid will be forthcoming has limited their ability to commit to larger projects that take years to plan and construct.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">The six expired tax breaks identified by the senators as possible offsets for fuel tax increases are a research and development tax credit, certain expensing by small businesses, the state and local sales tax deduction, increasing employer-provided transit benefits to the same level as parking benefits, a deduction for spending by teachers on classroom supplies, and an increased deduction for land conservation and easement donations.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">NEW POLL QUESTION:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Should congress raise the gas and diesel tax to stabilize the federal Highway Trust Fund and to fix roads?</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Yes</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">No</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Undecided</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;"><a href="http://clinton-countygop.org/content/should-congress-raise-gas-and-diesel-tax-stabilize-federal-highway-trust-fund-and-fix-roads">http://clinton-countygop.org/content/should-congress-raise-gas-and-diesel-tax-stabilize-federal-highway-trust-fund-and-fix-roads</a></span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">(To enter your comments click on&nbsp;</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: xx-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 48px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 48px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.5;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: xx-large; font-style: normal; line-height: 48px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 48px;">'</span><span style="font-size: 32px; line-height: 1.5;">&nbsp;after you vote.)</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">What should the President do about our southern border and illegal immigration?</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">57% - Impeach the President</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">30% - Call up the National Guard</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">5% - Play more golf</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">3% - Issue an executive order to become part of Mexico</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">3% - Go on more vacations</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">3% - Undecided&nbsp;</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">0% - Go on celebrity talk shows</span></div>
<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">0% -Go to more fundraisers</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">ONE COMMENT WAS MADE ON THIS POLL:</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">COMMENT #1</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">The Southern Border - Re-do the Poll</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">Sarcasm is understood but it has screwed up this poll. The poll results are now meaningless. How about redoing it in a serious manner? I suggest questions about what the Pres and Congress should really be doing now. Let us pick as many answers as we wish, not just one.</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">(1) There are also other things that the President should be doing, such as having ICE enforce the law. (2) There are things that Congress be doing. CONGRESS SHOULD NOT LEAVE FOR VACATION THIS FRIDAY, JUNE 20 thru SEPTEMBER 7. CONGRESS should be filibustering AND whatever it takes to deal with the Southern Border and the dumping of illegals by the feds through the country. I'm pleased that Candice Miller made that statement, but now what? Vacation? Nothing?</span></div>
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<div><span style="font-size: xx-large;">This is a deadly matter and requires action not just words.</span></div>
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