Obama Administration proposes Interstate system to be tolled

[dmcowen674]

4-30-2014

https://www.yahoo.com/travel/eeek-why-your-road-trip-might-cost-more-this-summer-84319792482.html

Obama Administration proposes Interstate system to be tolled



On Tuesday, the White House proposed a $302-billion transportation bill that could reverse the long-standing federal prohibition on interstate tolling, which has long kept the majority of the country’s 46,876-mile highway system free to drivers.


The bill would give states the freedom to enact tolls in order to raise revenue to pay for the maintenance of deteriorating transportation infrastructure.


“We believe that this is an area where the states have to make their own decisions,” Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx told the Washington Post. “We want to open the aperture, if you will, to allow more states to choose to make broader use of tolling, to have that option available.”

 

[dmcowen674]

Many states already have Interstates tolled like the Northeast and Chicago.

How did they get away with tolling the roads while many states don't have them tolled?

 

[K1052]

Interstates built by the Feds were not tolled, ones built by states alone could be.

It seems like a natural solution since nobody wants to raise the fuel taxes.

 

[Kadarin]

Perhaps instead the government should reduce the NSA's budget and allocate those funds for infrastructure?

 

[Agent11]

I say disband homeland security and the ATF as well while we are at it.

 

[Subyman]

God no, I was recently in Chicago. Just to go across town cost $10.25. Screw that. I think we pay enough damn tax.

 

[ivwshane]

Oh hell no!!!

How about we cut military spending, raise tax rates on the .01%, remove the social security cap first?

This is a lower/middle class tax:|

 

[MooseNSquirrel]

Regressive taxes for the win.

Sadly, the comment about the fuel tax is spot on, so I don't see any way around this.

 

[Anarchist420]

The U.S.G. ought to just turn over the interstate system completely to the States.

 

[michal1980]

isn't this a perfect use tax?

 

[Anubis]

Oh hell no!!!

How about we cut military spending, raise tax rates on the .01%, remove the social security cap first?

all of this

 

[PokerGuy]

Another attack by obummer and his minions on the middle class. Of course on TV the idiot in chief will claim to be fighting for the little guy against the evil 1%'ers. The rich don't care about tolls on roads, it's completely meaningless to them. It's the middle class, people that want to drive to see family for thanksgiving or something that are going to get soaked. As usual.

 

[sportage]

Well if republicans in congress would pass a infrastructure bill the problem would be fixed.
Roads need repair and the magic road repair fairy is broke.
Yeah, blame Obama for still another republican congressional failure.
Better yet, vote republicans OUT and we can get some long needed infrastructure bills passed.
And THERE you have the solution!

 

[michal1980]

Oh hell no!!!

How about we cut military spending, raise tax rates on the .01%, remove the social security cap first?

This is a lower/middle class tax:|

all of this

What does the cap with social security have to do with anything? You do realize there's also a cap on benefits?

 

[SheHateMe]

So, which states with toll roads do you guys think have the nicest looking roads?

I think its PA...

 

[cabri]

So, which states with toll roads do you guys think have the nicest looking roads?

I think its PA...

Define nice :whiste:

 

[Oldgamer]

Well if republicans in congress would pass a infrastructure bill the problem would be fixed.
Roads need repair and the magic road repair fairy is broke.
Yeah, blame Obama for still another republican congressional failure.
Better yet, vote republicans OUT and we can get some long needed infrastructure bills passed.
And THERE you have the solution!

This is exactly the problem. Plus many states are not using their funding appropriately. So some have a shortage in funds for infrastructure. This is in affect a tax. But again, stop blaming Obama for everything. It was many states who wanted to lift this and have the ability to tolls interstates and roads.

 

[cabri]

Well if republicans in congress would pass a infrastructure bill the problem would be fixed.
Roads need repair and the magic road repair fairy is broke.
Yeah, blame Obama for still another republican congressional failure.
Better yet, vote republicans OUT and we can get some long needed infrastructure bills passed.
And THERE you have the solution!

Republican or Democrat, it makes no difference who is in charge.
Neither party will accept clean bills for ANYTHING that has $$ related to it. Pork (or however you want to call it) and/or unrelated issues will be added to either grease or prevent passage of a clean bill.

If a Republican House put out a clean bill; someone on the Dem side will want to attach something to it that will infuriate the Republicans. And they know it.

If a Democratic House was to propose a clean bill; someone on the Rep side will do the same.

Unless something is non-productive, makes everyone look good, worthless; controversy will be created (partly for ego satisfaction) which hinders passage.

 

[squarecut1]

God no, I was recently in Chicago. Just to go across town cost $10.25. Screw that. I think we pay enough damn tax.

Not just Chicago and often it is more than above. Robbery

 

[Jaskalas]

God no, I was recently in Chicago. Just to go across town cost $10.25. Screw that. I think we pay enough damn tax.

Sounds like travel will become a rich man's sport.

 

[Texashiker]

More democrat tax and spend.

How much more taxation and fees can the people take?

Taxing the interstate system will make all goods go up. When an 18 wheeler has to pay a toll, that cost is going to be passed down to the consumer.

We already pay a tax on every gallon of fuel. How many more taxes do we need.

The federal reserve can print $85 billion a month to shore up the markets, but for some reason people need to pay more fees and fines? How about we take one month of that QE and pay for a whole new interstate highway system 3 times over.

 

[Zorba]

All because no politician has the balls to raise the fuel tax in any state, and we spend our money blowing up bridges in other countries, only to turn around and pay to rebuild them.

I actually think tolls and fuel tax should go away and replaced with a fee that is somehow proportional to vehicle weight and miles driven. I'd also be fine with getting rid of all regressive use taxes and replace them with progressive income tax. What we pay in income tax today should be plenty if we weren't wasting it on the NSA and a massively inefficient military.

 

[Zorba]

More democrat tax and spend.

How much more taxation and fees can the people take?

So how do you feel about your very Red state of Texas adding tollroads like it is going out of style? Not to mention many of those new toll roads are now on long term lease to foreign companies/governments, so the tolls are going to Spain not Texas. Texas makes it even worse, since it appears that each metro area is under their own tolling department, each with their own toll-tag system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tollways_in_Texas

Use taxes and privately owned infrastructure is the wet dream of libertarians, and it looks like the tea partiers blocking all action in congress is going to get them their wish.

I grew up with Tolls in Oklahoma, and I accept them because they are fairly reasonable and it is one system across the whole state. Driving on tolls in other states is like I got a ~$18 bill from Colorado last year when I drove 1/4 of the way around the outer loop in Denver, one time, that is just crazy.

 

[Texashiker]

So how do you feel about your very Red state of Texas adding tollroads like it is going out of style? Not to mention many of those new toll roads are now on long term lease to foreign companies/governments, so the tolls are going to Spain not Texas.

Isn't that how capitalism works?

Management of toll road is sent offshore, oh the horror.

Apple sends its iphone and tablet manufacturing to china and nobody gives a crap.

Our nation is going down the drain. President after president sends aid overseas while our own nation goes down the crapper.

 

[Zorba]

Isn't that how capitalism works?

Management of toll road is sent offshore, oh the horror.

Apple sends its iphone and tablet manufacturing to china and nobody gives a crap.

Our nation is going down the drain. President after president sends aid overseas while our own nation goes down the crapper.

I think US infrastructure should be a tool for improving OUR economy, not enrich foreign corporations on the backs of our low and middle classes.

But, two posts ago, you say that toll roads were caused by tax and spend democrats. Then when I point out that republicans in Texas are adding them all over the place, you claim its capitalism in action. Can you be just a little more disingenuous.