Fact Of The Day #33: The Ineffectively Flat Gas Tax (INFOGRAPHIC)

Gas Tax Fails To Generate Revenue
FILE-In this Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, file photo, a man pumps gas into his van while a sign advertises that a gallon of regular unleaded costs $4.09 at the Speedway on South Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo, Mich. Drivers are facing the biggest one-day jump in gasoline prices in 18 months, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, as Hurricane Isaac swamps the nation's oil and gas hub along the Gulf Coast. The nationwide average for a gallon of regular gas rose a nickel Wednesday to $3.80 as refineries shut down or cut back to protect against Isaac's high winds and heavy rain. (AP Photo/Kalamazoo Gazette, Mark Bugnaski)
FILE-In this Tuesday, Aug. 28, 2012, file photo, a man pumps gas into his van while a sign advertises that a gallon of regular unleaded costs $4.09 at the Speedway on South Westnedge Avenue in Kalamazoo, Mich. Drivers are facing the biggest one-day jump in gasoline prices in 18 months, Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2012, as Hurricane Isaac swamps the nation's oil and gas hub along the Gulf Coast. The nationwide average for a gallon of regular gas rose a nickel Wednesday to $3.80 as refineries shut down or cut back to protect against Isaac's high winds and heavy rain. (AP Photo/Kalamazoo Gazette, Mark Bugnaski)

As 33 million of us hit the road for Labor Day weekend (AAA estimate), consider that although gasoline prices have tripled since 1993, the federal gas tax hasn't budged one cent. It's remained a flat 18.4 cents per gallon for nearly 20 years. The revenue goes to maintain highways and bridges in sore need of repair, but inflation has whittled its value down by 35 percent.

State taxes also figure in pump prices: to see what the average American driver pays each year, see today's infographic. Then join the discussion thread below. Is road repair everyone's problem, or just motorists?

ftfingastax corrected

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CORRECTS: Gas taxes in Arizona (37.4 cents) and New Mexico (37.3 cents) -- 8.31.12

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