Posted on 05/04/2004 11:32:19 AM PDT by MountainPatriot
*MEDIA RELEASE*
DAVID CARR FOR STATE SENATE
SOMERSET, KY - Local broadcaster, small businessman and Senate candidate David Carr called on Frankfort today to take all steps necessary to repeal or suspend the automatic gas tax to be paid by Kentucky's drivers. With gas prices approaching nearly $2.00 per gallon, David Carr said now is not the time for a new hike in gas taxes.
A law passed by the General Assembly in the 1980's triggers automatic tax increases when gas prices rise above $1.11 per gallon in a selected month. Its purpose is to force consumers to curb their gas consumption. With gas prices at an all-time high, Kentucky citizens and out-of-state travelers are now faced with even higher gas prices because of this tax increase.
According to AAA's statistics, laws and taxes such as this have no effect on gas consumption by consumers.
"This law reminds me of the days when the government tried to control people's behavior through higher taxes and regressive laws. It's a holdover from the days of Jimmy Carter, long gas lines and the misery index," Carr said.
At present, Kentucky is collecting 16.4 cents per gallon on gasoline and 13.4 cents on diesel. This automatic tax increase would add another penny to these taxes.
"Frankfort might not think a penny is very much, but lower and middle income families do. Pennies turn into dollars. It all adds up, slowly but surely," Carr said. "In the end, it means people are forced to pay more and more taxes at the pump," Carr said.
While the law is temporary, there are no guarantees the gas tax will not increase again in July, which is the next 'specified month', according to reports in the Lexington Herald-Leader and on WKYT Television's website. At that time, the tax could increase again.
"The government will tell you that the price could go down by July, but there are no guarantees," Carr said.
Companies and institutions that must use a lot of gasoline or diesel, such as local ambulance services, small businesses and travelers, will be the ones who suffer.
Carr used this law as an example of the type of inaction that has been prevalent in Frankfort.
"Why is it laws, like this one, continue to be in effect, while the people we send to Frankfort spend more time deciding whether the blackberry will be the official state fruit instead of dealing with important pocket book issues? People will pay this tax because they have to. It will strain a fragile economic recovery. This isn't a fair tax to lower and middle income families, who are already strapped for cash. This just makes it harder for them to put food on the table," Carr said.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.