We need a higher gas tax.
So says Robert Atkinson, head of the National Transportation Infrastructure Financing Commission.
The commission is requesting to raise the tax an additional 10 cents per gallon, on top of the 18.4 cents per gallon we already pay at the federal level. That's not including the average 29 cents we pay on a state basis.
It also suggests that more "aggressive toll" rates and "congestion pricing" should be raised, so people who drive in congested areas would pay more than those who travel in less congested areas.
Do they think people want to drive in congested areas? That they, for the purpose of employment, use crowded tunnels, highways and bridges, have a realistic choice but to use those areas?
"Record high fuel prices and and economic slowdown caused sharp declines in driving by Americans in fiscal 2008, lowering the revenue collected for the fund, but federal highway spending rose $2 billion. The Highway Trust Fund took in $31 billion between October 2007 and September 2008, $3 billion less than the prior year".
This is a liberal's wet dream coupled with Obama's push for "repair" of our "crumbling infrastructure".
Due to high gas prices, we drove less (making global warming kooks happy, but that's another issue), thereby reducing revenue. Now, they say we need more taxes to make up for that lack of revenue.
Do they think that people who have to drive from point A to point B are going to take an alternate, more difficult route, relieving congestion? This is what's called a tax increase for the middle class. The vast majority of people commuting in these areas are just average citizens trying to get to and from work. It's not those eeeeevil CEOs who will foot the bill.
It's similar to tobacco taxes. Smoking is bad for you, but the less people smoke, the less money is generated for the "gubmint". (Knowing it's so bad, then why not ban it?)
Before gas prices rose and Americans drove those big SUVs and other gas guzzlers, the revenue collected must have been historically high. What happened to all that extra money?
It's also suggested that "America must shift to a system whereby Americans pay for the number of miles they drive instead of being taxed per gallon of gasoline. Under such a system people would pay more for driving in some areas such as heavily congested freeways and less in areas such as rural highways."
Sounds a bit "Orwellian" to me.
Scary.
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Comments (13)
"Sounds a bit "Orwellia... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Marc | January 9, 2009 3:21 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
"Sounds a bit "Orwellian" to me."
Sounds very "Oregonian" to me.
Not to mention old news.
1. Posted by Marc | January 9, 2009 3:21 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 15:21
2. Posted by 914 | January 9, 2009 3:22 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Yes, it is obviously all about money and corruption with the"Gubmint" power hungry fools.
When are people going to stop voting these ego maniacs into power? Just like alcohol kills how many yearly? As long as the cash cow flows its ok to overlook the destruction to lives.
I know its destruction of free choice but why should goverment benefit financially?
Sad.
2. Posted by 914 | January 9, 2009 3:22 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 15:22
3. Posted by irongrampa | January 9, 2009 3:28 PM | Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Of course there must be a tax--don't you realize that $40 per barrel oil represents an unanticipated windfall for American consumers?
How can they NOT take advantage of this opportunity?
3. Posted by irongrampa | January 9, 2009 3:28 PM |
Score: 3 (3 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 15:28
4. Posted by hermie | January 9, 2009 3:56 PM | Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Global Warmimg scammers say: Raise the gas tax. Force people to drive less!
Obamanomics advocates: Raise gas taxes because people have driven less to 'save the earth' and now we need the revenue!
Taxpayers: #@*^#@!
4. Posted by hermie | January 9, 2009 3:56 PM |
Score: 3 (5 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 15:56
5. Posted by Skeeter | January 9, 2009 4:38 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
In Texas they have been raiding the gasoline tax funds to finance schools, been doing it for years.
5. Posted by Skeeter | January 9, 2009 4:38 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 16:38
6. Posted by jmc | January 9, 2009 4:43 PM | Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
I've always thought scientist were kind of kooky, that's why I laughed so hard when I found out that at least 30 scientific societies and academies of science, including ALL of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries have endorsed the idea that global warming is real and man-made. Kooks.
Now,if they were saying Dinosaurs and humans walked the earth at the same... that's an idea I could get behind. But your're right that is a different subject entirely. Yaba Daba Do!
6. Posted by jmc | January 9, 2009 4:43 PM |
Score: 0 (4 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 16:43
7. Posted by BPG | January 9, 2009 5:39 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Sorry folks, but taxing people by the mileage they drive isn't appropriate either. If I live in a rural area (not now, but I have) I have much further to drive to do the things that many people can merely walk down the street to do.
For example - if I live in a big town or a city, I can walk to my local convenience store for bread or milk or whatnot. If I need those items in my rural town, I HAVE to get in the car and drive anywhere from 5 to 25-30 miles to get to the store that carries those items. Or, for government services - in rural areas those items are usually concentrated at the county seat or even the nearest city. So, in a metropolitan area if I need to get my car registered there is probably a DMV office relatively close, say 15 miles or less from home. I might even be able to take public transportation to get there. If I live in a rural area, the closest DMV office is likely in the largest town in the county. Rural counties, also tend to be expansive, and so the county seat may be 50 miles from my home. And so to register the car that I so desperately need because there is no public transportation I must make a 100-mile round trip, which probably also means that I'd need a day off from work in which to do it.
Perhaps I didn't choose to live in a rural area. Perhaps I was born there and my family is all nearby. Public transportation is not available because there are not enough people to utilize it such that it would be cost effective and in a large rural county it would probably not be able to service such a wide area adequately.
Remember, for years we paid a little tax on our telephone bills ($1 or $2) to support extending service into rural areas. And few people griped about that.
Think about it.
7. Posted by BPG | January 9, 2009 5:39 PM |
Score: 2 (2 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 17:39
8. Posted by Jason | January 9, 2009 7:18 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
There's not a problem in the world that a liberal can't fix with higher taxes.
http://www.rightklik.net/
8. Posted by Jason | January 9, 2009 7:18 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 19:18
9. Posted by hcddbz | January 9, 2009 8:43 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
I have plan let spend the current Gas Tax revenues only on roads.
9. Posted by hcddbz | January 9, 2009 8:43 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 20:43
10. Posted by BPG | January 9, 2009 10:06 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Hcddbz,
We could do that, sure, but then somebody might want the government to use Social Security revenues for Social Security, and we couldn't have THAT, could we?
10. Posted by BPG | January 9, 2009 10:06 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 22:06
11. Posted by MPR | January 9, 2009 10:25 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
At the rate Obamalala and the liberals are going driving off a cliff will be taxed.
11. Posted by MPR | January 9, 2009 10:25 PM |
Score: 1 (1 votes cast)
Posted on January 9, 2009 22:25
12. Posted by Spurwing Plover | January 10, 2009 10:29 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
TAX US FOR OUR GUNS,TAX US FOR OUR FOOD,TAX US FOR OUR BEATHING TAX US FOR OUR WALKING($1:00 EVERY STEP)TAX US FOR OUR BIKES TAX US FOR OUR SLEEPING($5:00 A MINUTE) TAX US WHEN WE WAKE UP TAX OUR ALWARM CLOCKS FOR RINING TAX US FROM DAWN TO DUCK TAX US 24/7 TAXES,TAXES,TAXES, FROM WEALTHY LIBERAL DEMACRATS TO BE EVEN MORE WEALTHY
12. Posted by Spurwing Plover | January 10, 2009 10:29 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 10, 2009 10:29
13. Posted by MF | January 11, 2009 8:49 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I noticed the price of gas is starting to go up again.
Also I just want to know what happened with the bailout money. is there any kind of accountability and audit checks.
does this make the national debt in the trillions.
how exactly are things improving = changing?
13. Posted by MF | January 11, 2009 8:49 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on January 11, 2009 20:49