White House press secretary Robert Gibbs is in Rep. James Oberstar’s (D-MN) doghouse for remarks he made about Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s idea of a mileage tax.

From ABC News’ Jake Tapper

Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and something of a firebrand, took issue with comments made last week by White House press secretary Robert Gibbs.

Gibbs had been asked about comments made by Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a former GOP congressman and a friend of Oberstar’s, in which he entertained the notion of a mileage tax on motorists. Gas taxes have long funded federal highway and bridge construction projects, but as gas mileage improves, transportation experts say a new revenue stream is needed. Policymakers in various states have been moving in the direction of a tax based on miles traveled rather than gallons purchased.

“We should look at the vehicular miles program where people are actually clocked on the number of miles that they traveled,” LaHood said in an interview with the Associated Press.

The AP asked Gibbs about this Friday.

“Has the President weighed in on this?” a reporter asked.

“I don’t believe the President has,” Gibbs said. “I can weigh in on it and say that it is not and will not be the policy of the Obama administration.”

“So was Secretary LaHood speaking out of turn here?” asked the reporter.

“I would direct you to Secretary LaHood on that,” Gibbs said.

“Well, we actually interviewed him, so — ” said the reporter.

“Well,” said Gibbs, “call him back.”

In an interview with Congressional Quarterly, Oberstar said that LaHood “had the temerity to think…and what did he get? Slapped down.  He’s a good man.  A decent man. Don’t let him get slapped down by know-nothings.” 

Oberstar then suggested that Gibbs ought to stay out of the conversation on transportation policy.

“I’ve got news for you,” Oberstar said, “transportation policy isn’t going to be written in the press room of the White House.”

Gibbs is finding out that his folksy charm only goes so far and that he is ill equipped to handle tough questions and raises more questions about the administration’s ability to run the government than it answers.

 

 

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