Posted on 04/24/2005 6:26:57 PM PDT by BobL
OLYMPIA, Wash. — The state House passed an $8.5 billion transportation package today, a day after Republicans derailed it.
The measure, which includes a 9.5 cent gas tax hike, passed on a 54-43 vote. It was defeated Saturday when leaders could only muster 45 votes, five shy of the bare minimum needed for passage.
A revote was taken today, and applause broke out on the floor after it was approved.
The package passed through the Senate earlier in the week with modest bipartisan support, but it melted down in rancor in the House on Saturday.
Democratic leaders have been saying for weeks that the plan would either pass with bipartisan support or not at all. Partisan control of both chambers has flipped back and forth between the two parties in recent years and Democrats fear being targeted in the next election if the gas-tax plan gets labeled a Democratic tax.
Opponents of the bill say the tax increase is too steep, and unsuccessfully demanded a smaller tax hike for transportation.
Earlier the GOP had offered to supply a more generous bloc of votes if the Democrats would give up their plan for a state operating budget that requires about $500 million in new revenue. The Democrats flatly rejected the offer and said transportation historically has been treated in a bipartisan fashion.
Opponents of the bill say the tax increase is too steep, and unsuccessfully demanded a smaller tax hike for transportation.
The gas tax increase would be phased in over four years, beginning with a 3-cent boost in July. The tax now is 28 cents a gallon.
Tolls, local taxes and weight fees on cars, light trucks and SUVs also are planned. The full gas tax hike and weight fee would cost motorists between $67 and $172 a year, depending on vehicle size. "This package is just too much for the people of Washington state, when you consider the price of gas and what's going on in Washington state with the economy," Rep. Doug Ericksen, R-Bellingham said during floor debate Saturday. He voted no again on Sunday.
Supporters said the transportation package pays for essential safety improvements, such as replacing the crumbling Alaskan Way Viaduct on Seattle's waterfront.
"We face a challenge as to how we're going to fix our aging infrastructure," House Transportation Chairman Ed Murray, D-Seattle, said Saturday. "We have a chance here to save lives, move people and deliver goods."
Gov. Christine Gregoire worked behind the scenes to keep the measure on track. On Sunday, she visited leaders in the House and Senate.
The proposed 16-year transportation plan would help finance "mega-projects" such as the viaduct replacement, a new state Route 520 bridge across Lake Washington and improvements on Interstates 405 and 90. It also would finance hundreds of highway and bridge projects, rail, ferries and other improvements.
Before all you guys have another hissy fit out there about more taxes, keep in mind that building highways does cost money, and gas taxes are not indexed for inflation.
So there are basically two options if you need capacity: 1) Tax gasoline sufficiently so that roads can get built; or 2) Build all new roads (and all additions) as toll roads.
Here in Texas, we've gone hell-bent on building toll roads. In fact, it's so bad here that our "Republican" governor tried to convert 3 freeways to toll roads just last year. Now we find out this year that much of our tolls are being diverted into the general fund (for cities and counties) - so tolls wind up being nothing more than a punishing new way to tax people - they don't even add capacity. Plus, we have at least a million cars, in the Houston area alone, now driving around with little transponders, so that the government can track their movements (they say it's for billing on toll roads, but the transponder readers are everywhere now).
In Washington state, it looks like they will stick with freeways - which is great, since I hope to retire there.
As to cost - our new toll roads in Texas are close to 20 cents per mile - much, much, more than is necessary to cover expenses - whereas in Washington state, it's closer to half a cent per mile (when you take the 10 cent higher gas tax and apply it to a car getting 20 miles per gallon).
So Texas can stew in their toll roads, while I will enjoy the freedom and privacy to travel at will in Washington.
(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)
dream on.
here in NY, we have the highest gas taxes and highest tolls in the nation. it costs $9 to cross the verrazano bridge. all of this, and the roads stink. most of the money goes to fund the pension plans of municipal workers involved in transportation.
Ping.
Unlike Texas, it looks like Washington state is up to the challenge of keeping its freeways - as freeways.
"House passes gas"
Tell me something I don't know.
I'm convinced that the toll system is a total fraud which does little except to line the pocket of corrupt politicians and builders.
Gas taxes are a much better way to pay for new roads.
Some people will fall for anything.
A Republican Senator said he was voting for the tax increase because cars - even SUV's - are getting better gas mileage and therefore less tax revenue is coming in.
So by that logic, we should all go out and buy 12 cylinder cars??
they have also raised suburban rail fares so much, that people are shying away from mass transit too. everything here is designed to get people from the suburbs, into manhattan. the trend now is simply that people do not want to travel into manhattan anymore - they tolls and rail fares have become so high, that is is skewing the entire economic dynamics of the region. and no one says a word about it. the only thing that is cheap is the subway.
in any case, the key is making sure the taxes actually go to fund transportation projects - once they start using the money for every other effort under the sun, it gets totally out of control.
"True - but at least they'll have enough money"
Stop right there- we're talking about government. It's NEVER "enough money".
" So by that logic, we should all go out and buy 12 cylinder cars??"
I'm not sure exactly what you mean - but I think you're saying, to the effect: "why save gas when the result is higher gas taxes?"
If so, ask yourself this question: Why should you get charged exactly the same road fees as a Hummer, if you drive a Ford Escort?
CT dropped fees on toll roads. NY is in the process other than tunnel and bridge crossings to other states. 50 years ago, NJ's Garden State Parkway was built with the proviso that once the highway was paid for, tolls would go away. Well the highway was paid for 30 years ago. And guess what...? Obvious answer.
NY shut down a ton of tolls on I287.
Before all you guys have another hissy fit out there about more taxes, keep in mind that building highways does cost money, and gas taxes are not indexed for inflation.
Assuming, of course that the Rats will spend the money on ROADS, unlike Kalifornia Rats that have three times confiscated road-only gas tax hikes for general fund welfare vote buying rathole entitlements. The only bigger holes in Kalifornia are the potholes in the roads.
A supercharged Bentley should satisfy this requirement. LOL. Call Rush and ask him which model he drives.
but with ezpass, its moving inthe other direction now - toll everything electronically.
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