Skip to Content
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Streetsblog San Francisco home
Log In
Gas Tax

Your Unlikely Reasonable Voice of the Day

Rep. Don Young (R-AK) is not known as a friend of green transportation -- and that's putting it mildly.

young_snarl2_big.jpgGOP Rep. Don Young (AK) showed a flash of reason today. (Photo: Progressive Alaska)

During his reign as House transportation committee chairman, Young passed a $283 billion bill that helped bloat the federal bureaucracy while steering disproportionate cash to highways; stretched the limits of the law by sending $10 million to widen a Florida highway that no one wanted widened; spearheaded his home state's "bridge to nowhere"; and declared pride in these dubious achievements.

But this afternoon, Young showed a glimmer of the political courage that led him to break from GOP orthodoxy in calling for a $1/gallon gas tax increase. Referencing the mounting clash between the transportation committee and the Obama administration, Young said:

Thisis the beginning of a long and arduous process. For those of you in theaudience who have interest in this, it's up to you to generate heat onthe administration and the Senate.

Good point. In fact, the House could be added to that list.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog San Francisco

Oakland Special Election: District 2 Debate

A coalition of Oakland transportation advocates get the skinny on District 2 candidates

March 14, 2025

Couple of Caltrain Updates

If AI's good enough for driverless cars, why not use it to keep trains safe too? Plus Caltrain wants you to take the train to the parade

March 13, 2025
See all posts