More than 22,000 people have signed a petition to repeal the gas tax increase.
Posted on 01/04/2006 7:21:46 PM PST by Libloather
Petitioners want gas tax to be capped
1/4/2006 9:09 PM
By: Associated Press
More than 22,000 people have signed a petition to repeal the gas tax increase.
RALEIGH, N.C. -- On the eve of a legislative committee meeting, the head of a conservative group asked legislators to roll back the gasoline tax increase that took effect last weekend and find a better way to generate road-building money.
Bill Graham, a Salisbury attorney who represents North Carolina Conservatives United, showed binders containing the names of more than 22,000 people who want eliminated the nearly 3-cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax that occurred Jan. 1.
"Good government depends on people getting involved," Graham told reporters Wednesday at the Legislative Building. "Over 22,000 North Carolinians have gotten involved by speaking out and letting (legislators) hear that they want to repeal this latest gas tax hike."
The state motor fuel excise tax rose by 2.8 cents per gallon to 29.9 cents, largely due to higher gas prices after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The tax is recalculated twice annually based on the average wholesale cost of fuel. The tax, which generates money for road improvements and construction, is among the highest in the nation.
"This hurts people in their pocketbooks," said Graham, adding that he would present the petition binders to legislative leaders.
Any tax freeze, reduction or recalculation would require a special legislative session. Senate leader Marc Basnight, D-Dare, House Speaker Jim Black, D-Mecklenburg, and Gov. Mike Easley have been cool to that idea.
Easley has said rolling back the gasoline tax would widen the gap between transportation dollars and road-building needs while providing little tax relief to motorists.
The General Assembly scheduled a special legislative committee Thursday to discuss the gas tax and rising home heating fuel costs. The panel also is set to look at the impact of the higher gas prices on North Carolina business and road-building expenses.
The legislative panel was formed after several House Democrats asked Easley two weeks ago to call a special session.
The Legislature also should consider reducing or eliminating the transfer of money from the Highway Trust Fund to the state's general operating fund, Graham said. The state budget called for a $252 million transfer this fiscal year.
Every penny of the gasoline tax generates $53 million annually.
Jan. 3--TRIAD -- Sen. Phil Berger and Rep. Earl Jones both say they worry that crass politics will intrude on an effort next week by state legislators to address rising fuel costs.
But the two legislators from the Triad who will serve on a special committee addressing fuel costs have different views about how politics might rear its ugly head during the discussions.
Berger, R-Rockingham and GOP Senate minority leader, said he worries that Democratic leaders of the N.C. General Assembly are forming the Joint Select Committee on Energy and Fuel Costs as political window-dressing for the public. Berger has been among Republican leaders pressing Democratic Gov. Mike Easley to call a special session to address the automatic 2.8-cent increase in the gas tax that takes effect Sunday.
"I think the fact that they have appointed the committee is an indication that they are hearing the complaints," Berger said. "I hope this will deal with the issues involved in increased (gas) taxes, and not a diversion that would result in talking but not doing anything."
But Jones, D-Guilford, said he worries that the Republican-led effort to call a special session is itself a diversion that won't make an appreciable difference in the day-to-day lives of North Carolinians.
"I'm going to try to be objective in evaluating this, but I think this is politically motivated," Jones said. Republicans want to focus on nominal issues such as the small gas tax hike to divert attention from the main problem -- record profits and insensitivity by major oil companies that are a mainstay of GOP fundraising, Jones said.
"Two months ago, oil companies celebrated record-breaking profits at the same time North Carolina citizens were paying more than $3 a gallon for gas," he said. "That's the problem here."
ping
Earl Jones - one brain cell short of a carrot...
"Earl Jones - one brain cell short of a carrot..."
Funny because it's true...but I hafta agree that more gas tax sucks.
This jerk should look at the after tax profits in the banking industry.
Why we pay these a$$holes more than the minimum wage, is beyond me.
NC ping. From South Carolina where the gas tax is $0.1675/gallon.
27.1 CENTS per gallon
The Legislature has drained $1 billion out of the Highway Trust Fund in the last four years . using the money for regular government spending instead of for roads.
37% increase since 2002.
http://www.stopthegastaxhike.com/
Go North Carolina! Show the way!
rat governor + rat Assembly + rat Senate = tax increases.
Any questions?
"The Legislature has drained $1 billion out of the Highway Trust Fund in the last four years . using the money for regular government spending instead of for roads."
That is one of the reasons that Charlotte has to wait at least another 10 years for the completion of Interstate 485.
Bump, I am one of the 22,000 on the list!
Nope, we need the gas tax we really do. And we need a lottery, another increase in the sales tax, an increase in income tax, and just for kicks let's add a tax on something that's never been taxed before too.
I hear their adding a "view tax" to houses with great views in New England.
You know at lunch I was thinking about this. I think we've got it all wrong. Think about it. What's one reason (out of many) we've had so many transplants in the past two decades? Lower taxes than where these people were coming from. If we ask our legislators to continue to jack up the taxes, maybe, just maybe, it'll be high enough the yanks will move somewhere else ;) Hey it can't hurt to try can it?
We could really discourage 'em by tripling the car tax fee, too.
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