The following passages present two sides of a debate about increasing the federal gasoline tax.


Senator Smith:

“We should increase the gasoline tax because our country desperately needs the money to help pay off the national debt. Our country has so many vehicles that a small increase in the gas tax will give us billions of dollars to reduce the debt, and we can still have good roads.”


Senator Jones:

“We shouldn’t increase the gasoline tax. An increase in the gas tax will hurt low-income drivers, people on Social Security, and drivers in the West who must travel long distances. The gas tax was designed to improve roads and bridges, and that work is being done. Let’s leave the gas tax alone.”