Alan Armstrong on gas tax
From Sen. Armstrong Advocates for Infrastructure Expansion · · Bloomberg Podcasts
“If you pull back the gasoline tax, you're just gonna be increasing the deficit and ultimately raising taxes somewhere else. So that's not, from my perspective, that is like putting a glove on to fix a leaky pin and doesn't really get at the really important issues, which is getting things like there's a major pipeline that Phillips 66 and Kinder Morgan are trying to build called Western Gateway that would bring a product from right here in Oklahoma into the California markets.”
On , Alan Armstrong, Executive Chairman of the Board at Williams Companies Inc, spoke about gas tax during Sen. Armstrong Advocates for Infrastructure Expansion on Bloomberg Podcasts.
About Alan Armstrong
Alan Armstrong, who was appointed to the U.S. Senate from Oklahoma in March 2026 to fill the seat vacated by Markwayne Mullin, has focused his short tenure on advocating for permitting reform for energy infrastructure. Armstrong, who resigned as executive chairman of Williams Companies to take the seat, has stated that he will not run for a full term. In multiple media appearances, he has argued that the U.S. has become a difficult place to build critical infrastructure, citing permitting processes and litigation as key obstacles. He has described the inability to build pipelines and other infrastructure as a driver of higher consumer energy prices, and has said that fixing permitting reform would not immediately lower prices but would provide long-term benefits. Armstrong has criticized the use of Clean Water Act Section 401 water quality certifications by states to block pipeline projects, calling it a "handle" used to stop infrastructure. He has also stated that he supports pursuing all energy options but does not support subsidies. Armstrong has said that his short, non-reelection term gives him unusual freedom to focus on long-term issues without concern for political popularity. He has expressed hope that bipartisan support exists for permitting reform but has noted that the outcome depends on whether Senate leadership allows a productive bill to pass.