Ithaca's Gas Price Gouge

Federal Review ^ | Saturday, May 20, 2006

[Behind Liberal Lines]

ITHACA, NY--Despite a state law allowing them to do so, Ithaca area politicians have said they have no intention of cutting the local sales tax on gasoline.

Speaking to the Ithaca Journal, Tim Joseph (D-Ithaca), Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature, said that area officials were “not interested” in following the state’s lead in capping the sales tax, despite skyrocketing prices, claiming “the proposal offers miniscule relief.”

Joseph's comments came despite studies that show taxes, including local taxes, up to one third of the cost of gas.

Many experts consider the gas tax a “regressive” tax, meaning it disproportionately affects the poor and middle class.

Joseph did not offer any proposals for cutting the local cost of gas. He did, however, volunteer his belief that “oil companies continue to drive up the cost of gasoline.”

The average price for gasoline in Ithaca is currently over $3.02 per gallon, approximately ten cents a gallon higher than the national average.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Ithaca is the City of Evil.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

City of Evil bump:

[Fzob]

Joseph did not offer any proposals for cutting the local cost of gas. He did, however, volunteer his belief that “oil companies continue to drive up the cost of gasoline.”

Mr. Joseph proclaims to the world that is liberal and stupid.

[lilylangtree]

Ithaca politicians and Seattle politicians are alike--BARF!

[mc6809e]

The tax is fine so long as it is fairly charging people for the government services they consume, like repair and upkeep of the roads.

The problem with Ithaca's tax is that the money is used for services that have nothing to do with driving on the road. They are instead are used for other purposes -- like give-aways to some other group.

[RedBeaconNY]

...Gas is $3.05/gal in Rochester, NY... New York is just overwhelmingly stupid.

[gondramB]

>>Joseph did not offer any proposals for cutting the local cost of gas. He did, however, volunteer his belief that “oil companies continue to drive up the cost of gasoline.”<<

This particular person may be clueless but in general I'm not convinced it is the local government's job to lower gas prices.

[SteveH]

Many experts consider the gas tax a “regressive” tax, meaning it disproportionately affects the poor and middle class.

"Many experts consider..." ??? It is a regressive tax.

BTW, Ithaca is decent and conservative compared to the San Francisco Bay Area (gas price $3.29+/gal, much of it going to local taxes).

[P-40]

Many experts consider the gas tax a “regressive” tax

That is always a fun argument. :)

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

The socialists are not going to give up their windfall profits for anybody, let alone their foolish electorate.

[Fzob]

My comments were in no way meant to be taken as I believe local governments should be involved in lowering gas prices, unless it means lowering gas taxes.

[Scothia]

Ex-Ithacan in the State of Evil here. Cheapest gas in my part of California is $3.29/g.

[gondramB]

>>My comments were in no way meant to be taken as I believe local governments should be involved in lowering gas prices, unless it means lowering gas taxes.<<

Sorry about that - I did not mean to imply otherwise - I only meant to use your post as a jumping off point.

[SuziQ]

Heh, we were just there last weekend for #1 son's graduation from Cornell Law School. We gassed up before we got to town, and after we left because we figured it would be expensive in Ithaca.

[conservative in nyc]

It's a county sales tax that goes up as the price of gas goes up. Tomkin's County profits as gas prices rise. The proposed law would sensibly cap the county sales tax when prices exceed $2.00 per gallon, just as the state has recently decided to do.

Before the state tax was capped, NYS and the counties/cities would get 7-8.5¢ for every dollar gas prices rose.

[mewzilla]

Joseph did not offer any proposals for cutting the local cost of gas. He did, however, volunteer his belief that “oil companies continue to drive up the cost of gasoline.”

Government gets more money from each gallon of gas than do the oil companies.

Who's gouging?!

[gondramB]

>>It's a county sales tax that goes up as the price of gas goes up. Tomkin's County profits as gas prices rise. The proposed law would sensibly cap the county sales tax when prices exceed $2.00 per gallon, just as the state has recently decided to do.

Before the state tax was capped, NYS and the counties/cities would get 7-8.5¢ for every dollar gas prices rose.<<

Oddly enough income tax works that way too - if they don't adjust the brackets then inflation pushes people into higher and higher brackets. The government should make continual rate decreases to stay even.

But that's not generally the nature of government. They tend to look at such revenue increases as "free money."