Time to raise the gasoline Tax?

[heyheybooboo]

Gas consumption has dropped for the first time since 1991 resulting in a loss of around $5 billion in federal highway trust fund revenues last year. The lost for the current year will be even greater.

Combined with higher costs for asphalt, concrete and steel the reduction in revenues will most likely bankrupt the highway trust fund and result in the delay of as much as one-third of current projects. There are around $40 billion in federal transportation projects planned for this year.

Bush proposed shifting cash from mass transit to highway projects - pretty much shot down because of an increase in ridership (and because local transportation budgets are also struggling ...). There was a proposal to shift $8 billion from the general fund to the highway trust fund but that was dropped because of deficit concerns (but we can give bankers $350 billion ??).

The federal gas tax is 18.4 cents/gallon.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: Brovane

Originally posted by: Double Trouble
Yes, what a wonderful idea, increase taxes, further push our economy in the tank so the government can be forced to write more checks and print more money. Good thinking. Increasing taxes should be an absolute last resort answer, after every other realistic alternative has been considered and re-considered.

Great what is your alternatives to get the US so it isn't so dependent on Petroleum?

Tap into US sources of oil to bridge the gap from current state to future technologies and energy sources.

Also where do you propose we get the money to pay to start fixing the crumbing infrastructure in the US? Do we just do more deficit spending and let somebody else pay for it?

No, you've fallen into trap of thinking the way big government idiots want you to think. Notice you've left out the real solution from your solution set: reduce government waste and squandering, and use the available resources to fix the infrastructure. Just because something needs done doesn't mean government automatically needs more money, it means they have to make some decisions on how to allocate money better. If you don't have enough money to repair your car, do you walk into your boss' office and say "give me more money, I need to fix my car"? No, you cut back somewhere else to pay for the repair.....

If more money is truly needed, then I'm all for paying my share of it, but I simply don't believe money is being spent judiciously as it is.

 

[piasabird]

Lots of people are purchasing cars that get better MPG that will translate to lower taxes. A lot of people also purchased motor cycles. Gas consumption was supply and demand. Because less supply was used the federal government needs less money to keep up the roads. The gas tax is for road maintenance, not for politicians to spend on pork projects.

It may only make sense for mass transit in Metropolitan areas. In many areas Mass Transit gets voted down, because people dont like minorities or crime moving around easier. In St Louis, MO they have problems with areas being overrun with criminals and young thugs committing crimes at night. This did not get real bad until they opened the train lines to East St Louis, MO. The worst part is the papers and the Local news was not reporting on it and the transit authority kept it quiet so they did not have any bad publicity.

The point is there is more to putting mass transit in place than just money. First you have to convince a lot of people that it is a good thing. When a train or a bus shows up and then there are only 4 people on the bus it is a hard sell.

The Federal Gas tax is $0.184, but in some places gas the State tax is as high as $0.319, for a combined Tax of $0.503 like in New York State. So raising federal tax could have even more of a negative effect than you may think. However if you are going to propose a slight raise in taxes or some system where it is raised say by a penny a year every other year for a few years then there would not be a dramatic effect all at once. Or you can just say raise it .05 all at once.

 

[OCGuy]

Originally posted by: Stunt

Originally posted by: Rustler
Let's give the govenment more of our money since they do such a fine job spending it...................

What government spends money on is another topic of discussion.
Right now there's a massive deficit and taxation must be implemented to pay for government obligations or obligations must be cut to maintain the current taxation rates.

We'll go with that one. Thanks.

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: daniel49
Washington state has the highest gas tax in the nation already. The rest of you suck it up.

I'd just like to point out that Washington ($0.28/gallon) is only FIFTH in highest gas taxes in the nation.

#4: Rhode Island $0.30/gallon
#3: Pennsylvania $0.311/gallon
#2: New York $0.319/gallon
#1: Wisconsin $0.321/gallon

Link

 

[Fear No Evil]

Lets tax abortions. I believe thats one area we have overlooked.

 

[boomerang]

Originally posted by: Brovane
Is it time to raise the gasoline tax?

#1-To help spur development of alternative modes of transportation? Like electric cars, more fuel efficient cars, etc? Maybe pay for tax incentives for production of cars that don't use internal combustion engines?

#2- We know the infrastructure of this country needs some serious investment. Put more spending into this infrastructure which should also spur jobs?

#3- Use tax revenue to significantly increase the SPR?

Should we use this opportunity to make some serious changes to try and get off being so dependent on petroleum as part of national energy policy? Do we just let the free market work?

No thanks. But you can send in as much additional money as you want when you file your tax return next year. Just enclose a note saying you want it to go towards infrastructure, the greater good or whatever you want. Get your friends on board too.

Actually, why wait? Send it now.

 

[PokerGuy]

Originally posted by: boomerang

Originally posted by: Brovane
Is it time to raise the gasoline tax?

#1-To help spur development of alternative modes of transportation? Like electric cars, more fuel efficient cars, etc? Maybe pay for tax incentives for production of cars that don't use internal combustion engines?

#2- We know the infrastructure of this country needs some serious investment. Put more spending into this infrastructure which should also spur jobs?

#3- Use tax revenue to significantly increase the SPR?

Should we use this opportunity to make some serious changes to try and get off being so dependent on petroleum as part of national energy policy? Do we just let the free market work?

No thanks. But you can send in as much additional money as you want when you file your tax return next year. Just enclose a note saying you want it to go towards infrastructure, the greater good or whatever you want. Get your friends on board too.

Actually, why wait? Send it now.

Exactly. I don't understand this notion that the government has done such a wonderful job dispensing resources wisely, that it would be a good idea to raise taxes and send even more money to the government.

 

[PingSpike]

I'd prefer a higher gas tax if it meant I would drive on roads that weren't last paved during Roman rule. Tire blasting booby traps and suspension destroying popholes are a bigger problem then a nickle per gallon to me anyway.

That said, my local government would just raid the transportation fund like they always have before so that each child in school can have a self esteem mentor especially for them while the infrastructure crumbles.

 

[SagaLore]

The tax on gasoline should be removed. Then transfered and increased to the manufacturing of anything that uses it.

 

[Xecuter]

Yes. Increased tax on gasoline would increase revenue and encourage conservation.