Posted on 02/03/2016 2:47:46 PM PST by george76
Part of a fee that motorists pay to a road and bridge fund is being used for transit projects across Colorado, and Senate Republicans don't believe that's right.
As a result, the Colorado Senate gave preliminary approval Tuesday to a bill that would change that.
...
"The intent of this bill is to ensure that the money paid by citizens for the improvement of roads and bridges when they pay their vehicle registration fees is actually used for roads and bridges," Neville said. "The definition of a fee is that it should be utilized for those who are paying the fees."
...
if Democrats want to make funding available for transit projects, they should run a bill to pay for it some other way. Motorists shouldn't have to subsidize it from a fee that they pay for roads and bridges, said Sen. Kevin Lundberg, R-Loveland.
Although the courts have subsequently ruled that the fee is not a tax in disguise, which would require voter approval, Lundberg argued it really is a "car tax."
"(SB11) targets one of the most egregious misuses of that concept of a fee," Lundberg said.
"It is clearly a tax when a cost is assigned to registering your car, and then those dollars are taken and used for a public transit purpose. That is not the proper use of a fee," he said.
Sen. Chris Holbert, R-Parker, said the measure also would eliminate 10 jobs within the Colorado Department of Transportation, and put the money toward something Colorado voters expect.
(Excerpt) Read more at gjsentinel.com ...
But...but...but...what will happen to the self driving electric cars from GM-Solyndra?
I just sent the article to my State Delegate. I’m in Maryland and love hopeless causes.
This is good news. Our roads and highways are in horrible shape.
This bill will never get past the Democrats. Still good to point out that vehicle, gasoline, and diesel taxes are being stolen for left wing pet projects .
Need to get more Pot Growing to pay for some of this crap
In MD, the rats literally stole about $1 billion from the transportation TRUST fund (During Martin O’Malley’s Administration) When caught, he promised to never do it again, then they raised gas taxes, and tolls.
I just turned in an expense report for work. $400 in tolls in the past 2 1/2 months. MD, DE, NJ, PA
Colorado is known for it’s misuse of tax payer’s moneys, and through various venues. For example, in one town the money made through the electric cooperative was intended to be used to improve the efficiency of the electric company. Instead, it was used to build a swimming pool that the voters didn’t want and had voted down.
Other moneys intended for parks and recreation were used to build a prison on land it wasn’t supposed to be built upon in the first place. The money was supposed to go for parks and recreation.
It’s also known for overriding the voter’s wishes through the courts.
Therefore, the tax payers voted no tax increases without their approval. And so now, they still steal from Peter to pay Paul on yet another project!
I’ve seen a ton of corruption there, and even more at the grassroots level.
Beautiful scenery, but a nasty place to live.
Yes, please.
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
Here, I pay $160 a year in taxes for mobile bedroom/bathrooms for homeless people, otherwise known as “buses”. When I am in traffic, I am usually behind one, virtually empty, of course.
You would not believe how much gas tax money is siphoned off to transit, bikes, gay museums (see California) instead of roads.
This is good to see because it exposes how funds are misused.
Hogan appears to be actually trying to allocate more money for roads and bridges. He is initiating the widening of that cramped stretch of Route 32 that runs between Eldersburg and Clarksville, for example.
Actually, theft from the transportation fund went on under both Republicans and Democrats.
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