Congress
“Are you out of your fricking mind?” Republicans balk at new passenger car fee proposal
A proposal to create a new $20 fee on most passenger cars to help pay for Trump administration priorities may already be in danger thanks to Republicans loathe to create a new fee.
House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Sam Graves (R-Mo.) released the details Tuesday of his committee’s contribution to the larger GOP megabill ahead of a planned Wednesday markup, which included the $20 annual fee indexed to inflation.
Graves said it is intended to lay the foundation for eventually doing away with the federal gasoline tax, which has helped pay for transportation projects since it was established in 1932. For now, though, the fee, which would be levied on gas-powered passenger cars, would be additive.
But Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) was outraged by the proposal and put it forward as an example of why he’s skeptical about how much the Republicans’ party-line package of tax cuts, border security investments, energy policies and more will actually reduce the federal deficit.
“Like, are you out of your fricking mind?” Roy said Tuesday upon reviewing the proposal. “Like, the party of limited government is gonna go out and, ‘say we’re gonna have [a car tax]?’”
“You know what I was told? ‘Don’t worry about it. We’ll get rid of it later in the highway bill,’” Roy continued. He said the message he received is that the car tax is “a gimmick to pay for this, so we know that we’re not actually gonna pay for it. That’s how this town works.”
Rep. Eric Burlison (R-Mo.) said when the committee convenes to vote on the matter, he’s planning to vote “no,” calling the language “problematic.”
He said Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pa.) is working on an amendment that would modify the language, though he didn’t elaborate. Perry’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
“We’re trying to get the message to leadership that there’s got to be a better way to find the funds than to create a new national vehicle registration fee,” Burlison said.
House Speaker Mike Johnson separately told reporters the proposed fee wasn’t a priority of his, but also didn’t oppose the idea – a least not publicly.
These early reactions from some Republicans don’t bode well for the proposal. But if Graves succeeds, it would mark the first meaningful change to the excise tax revenues that pay for federal transportation projects since Bill Clinton was president — and a major move away from the political inaction on funding deficits that has been the cornerstone of the country’s transportation policy for decades.
Graves’ proposal would call for state departments of transportation to collect the fee and remit it to the Federal Highway Administration. It wouldn’t take effect until Oct. 1, 2030, and would expire four years later unless Congress renews it. Actually doing away with the gasoline tax would require subsequent legislation, as well.
Congress
Senate GOP ready to move on elections bill
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso told reporters Monday the chamber will vote Tuesday to take up a House-passed elections bill known as the SAVE America Act.
The Wyoming Republican, whose job it is to help round up support, said he is “doing everything I can to make sure we get on this bill tomorrow.”
Republicans will need a simple majority to begin debate on the partisan legislation; they can lose three members and still let Vice President JD Vance break a tie.
So far, Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) has said he’s a “no,” while Republicans are also watching GOP Sens. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Congress
Jesse Jackson’s family withdraws posthumous endorsement in Illinois Senate primary
The family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson walked back a posthumous endorsement of Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton’s Senate campaign on Monday, after the family said Jackson’s endorsements for Tuesday’s primaries were not completed before his death.
On Saturday, Stratton’s campaign touted an endorsement from Jackson, who died last month, and his son Yusef. The announcement came after Stratton saw Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the Jackson family’s organziation, passing out sample ballots — which were also obtained by Blue Light News — that recommended Stratton.
“[Jackson’s] example has been a north star for me, and I’m deeply honored to have received his trust, support, and endorsement before his passing,” Stratton said in a statement on Saturday.
But on Monday, Yusef Jackson, who is the organization’s COO, said the draft sample ballot was “released without authorization” and that the Jackson family and Rainbow PUSH Coalition are not making political endorsements this cycle.
His father “began the process of reviewing candidates and identifying those he intended to support in the upcoming primary election,” Yusef Jackson said in the statement. “However, given his passing just over a month ago, the process was never fully completed. Out of respect for my father, we decided not to publicly release his intended selections given the process had not been finalized.”
The Stratton campaign said on Monday that officials with Rainbow PUSH Coalition said she had been endorsed by Jackson.
“Juliana spoke on Saturday at Rainbow PUSH for a Women’s History Month event and officials told her she received the endorsements. Organizers shared the sample election ballot that was already being distributed and encouraged her to share the news,” the Stratton campaign said in a statement.
The endorsement mix-up draws further scrutiny on the split among Black Democrats in Illinois between Stratton and Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), who are both seeking to succeed retiring Sen. Dick Durbin. Some Democrats in the state have expressed concern that Stratton and Kelly could split the vote in Tuesday’s primary, creating a path for Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) to win the nomination.
Rep. Jonathan Jackson (D-Ill.) told Blue Light News prior to the family’s statement that his father “never got in on Black-on-Black fights.”
Jonathan Jackson added that the races the late Jesse Jackson “was excited about” were himself and former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s comeback bid.
“He wouldn’t do that. He was always pushing the community forward,” Jackson said. “This smells of desperation.”
Congress
Johnson on Trump’s Hormuz plan
Speaker Mike Johnson said he supports President Donald Trump’s effort to build a global coalition ensure safe passage of commerce through the Strait of Hormuz — even if Trump “didn’t anticipate it” being necessary before launching airstrikes against Iran.
Speaking to reporters after attending a Washington event with Trump, Johnson said the president told him that “he anticipated the strait of Hormuz would be closed.”
“I don’t know that he didn’t anticipate it in the front end, but now it’s necessitated,” Johnson said. He added that the coalition is “a reasonable thing” for other countries to assist with and “it would be helpful.”
Asked about how much a potential supplemental package to fund the military action would cost, Johnson said, “We don’t know yet.” Estimates for the cost of the war have exceeding $1 billion per day.
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