Possible Gas Tax Increase

Just read in the paper this morning that because people are driving less and buying less gas, fuel taxes aren't raising enough money to keep pace with the cost of road, bridge, and transit programs. So a commission created by Congress is talking about increasing federal gas and diesel taxes. They're talking about 10 cents a gallons for gas and 12-15 cents a gallon for diesel. Nothing is for certain yet though. Boy, you try to save fuel and money and then the government sticks it to you because you did!

 

that's why plug in electric cars in the future won't be a cost savings... they'll start increasing electric rates and increases taxes for electricity for you to charge the damn things...

 

I read this yesterday and I think my blood pressure shot up real high. Use less fuel and they stick a tax on it. It makes my head spin.

 

Besides raising the gas tax, the commission is also recommending that they tie future gas tax increases to inflation so that it increases automatically every year, that states increase their fuel tax, create more toll roads, and increase their fees for rush hour traffic use.

Democrats piss me off!

 

+1000 You said it!

 

And this is just the start. Once the new administration takes hold, it most likely will only get worse since the Dems have control off The Executive, Legislative, and soon the Judicial branches of government. Say good bye to checks and balances.

 

Here's a good example:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/2009-01-03-obama-stimulus_N.htm?csp=34

Spend $775 Billion dollars to create 3 million jobs. That's comes out to $258,333 per job created.

 

Hell, They could put a buck tax on a gallon and it would still get paid. We proved that the average driver will pay upwards to $4.00 or more a gallon. If the national average is $1.60, add a $1.00 and you are talking $2.60 or so. Still do able.

Take that tax and use it to make rapid transit/bus/rail services enhanced. Take the auto industry, rehire and retool the factories to make commuter rail cars/green buses and the like.

People are back to work, economy gets a shot in the arm and it will get vehicles off the road which means less gasoline and the price comes down again.

Just some rough math but it's a direction that could be explored.

I'll sit back and wait for the "I'm not paying for green buses 'cause I live in East OverShoot and We ain't got no buses, bitchin'"

 

And Congress gave themselves a raise...

 

I read somewhere that some states (Oregon, being one) are experimenting with GPS transponders inside cars to be able to tax their mileage instead of hiking up gas prices...

 

There is a University that was doing feasibility studies on taxing per mile of use. But if you think about it, a gasoline tax is the same thing. The more you drive, the more gas you use, the more tax you pay.

 

Exactly. The only thing I got out of the little thing I read about it was "we want the ability to track you".