Posted on 06/18/2014 5:08:56 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
Two U.S. senators on Wednesday proposed raising federal gasoline and diesel fuel taxes by 12 cents a gallon [3.2 cents a liter] over the next two years to keep a road and bridge fund from going broke.
The gasoline tax now stands at 18.4 cents a gallon, and the diesel tax at 24.4 cents a gallon. The politically sensitive levies have not been increased since 1993.
The senators' plan faces an uphill fight this year, with congressional elections coming in November.
Senators Bob Corker, a Republican, and Chris Murphy, a Democrat, called for the tax increase, with the new revenue going to replenishing the federal Highway Trust Fund.
The fund pays for about half the country's spending on transportation projects and is projected to run out of money by the end of August.
“If Americans feel that having modern roads and bridges is important then Congress should have the courage to pay for it,” said Tennessee's Corker, in a joint statement.
Murphy, of Connecticut, said, “I know raising the gas tax isn't an easy choice, but we're not elected to make easy decisions -- we're elected to make the hard ones.”(continued)
(Excerpt) Read more at voanews.com ...
“You will probably get both.”
Actually the gas tax is TRIVIAL compared to the tolls being charged - you won’t even notice the increase if both are done.
“Oh, you WILL get both. And, the “mileage tax” idea? Does any rational person ACTUALLY BELIEVE FOR A MOMENT that will be a -replacement- for the gas tax in order to accommodate alternate fueled vehicles? Ha.”
If you DO NOT propose an alternative (i.e., a modest rise in the gas tax), you are ASSURED to get that “mileage tax”. Washington is DROOLING at that idea - and with no gas tax increase, it is DONE DEAL.
And yes...it will be nasty, VERY NASTY. With vehicle tracking they will be able to charge out based on the following:
1) What you drive
2) Where you drive
3) When you drive
4) Your political party (don’t put it past them)
So, if you like driving your big car, SUV, or truck to work, on a crowded road, during rush hour, you will get screwed, BIG TIME.
‘I thought we fixed the infrastructure with the last stimulus.”
Well, the only thing that was “shovel ready” was the sh&& coming out of the Administration.
“Like the Big Dig in Boston, and that disaster they have going on now in Seattle.”
We also got the INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM and then widened it in virtually every city in the country.
I’d say we came out ahead, BIG TIME.
When the kickbacks, jobs for family and friends, and funneling a fortune to unions are factored in I don’t think we got our money’s worth. The highway bill along with the farm bill is the largest thievery on Earth.
“When the kickbacks, jobs for family and friends, and funneling a fortune to unions are factored in I don’t think we got our money’s worth. The highway bill along with the farm bill is the largest thievery on Earth.”
I won’t argue either point (especially the farm bill), but if you REALLY want to see corruption, just go to a toll road system (or mileage tax). Here in Houston, we collect so much more in tolls than the roads need that they’re giving money to the cities, for their projects.
Rates on the privately-owned 407 ETR in Canada. Roughly 40 cents per mile. Think about that.
http://www.407etr.com/tolls/rate-chart-2014.html
This is America.. Private road operators can charge whatever they like. The market will tell them when the price is too high.
Hasn’t the fund for roads, bridges, etc. been raided for other purposes?
They’re doing it to avoid laying off some of the more useful government employees—e.g., regulators. [Irony, sarcasm.]
Eff ewe Bob Corker. Seriously, eat feces and expire. A tax increase? A flipping tax increase? For real? Are you on crack? What the hell is your problem? You jackass.
He needs to go. Meanwhile, we can take out his twin Lamar.
No new taxes. No tax increases. Maybe the Federal Government is incapable of maintaining the roads and bridges and ought to get out of that business.
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