GOP senator leaves wiggle room on gas tax

Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) signaled Sunday that Republicans might be open to negotiating increasing the gas tax in order to pay for the highway infrastructure spending bill that expires in May.

{mosads}In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Thune said that while he is opposed to increasing the gas tax, lawmakers will need to “keep all options” available when they return to Washington this week.

“I don’t favor increasing any tax,” Thune said. “But I think we have to look at all options.”

Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tenn.) had proposed cutting other taxes while raising the gas tax user fee $0.12.

“I don’t think we take anything off the table at this point,” said Thune, who will chair the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. “Those discussions continue… It is important that we fund infrastructure.”

Corker said his proposal is “revenue neutral.”