[jonrick46]

We could also ask to have some of those taxes on gasoline dropped to reasonable levels. In Washington State, we are paying a total of 41.4 cents a gallon (total state and federal).

This dependence on gasoline for taxes causes more problems than high fuel prices. As motorists begin to drive more fuel efficient vehicles and limit their driving, there is less tax revenue. Now what?

In Washington State, the legislature is thinking about tolls on the major freeways to make up for the downfall in revenue. Just what motorists need. Toll booths will make traffic flow worse.

This obsession with taxation from expensive, inefficient government is the root of the problem. And the reason that government is expensive is because of the costs of enforcement for all of the regulations by government.

[gidget7]

Not to mention, the ........how many different emission regulations during refining ?? California has the strictest regulation on gasoline emissions, and a lot of other states have different. With so many different mixtures, it costs more to refine, and states, in many cases cannot get it from a neighboring state unless the emissions standard is the same. Even in an emergency. How about Congress make ONE uniform regulation! And the the strictest one.

[gogeo]

We could also ask to have some of those taxes on gasoline dropped to reasonable levels. In Washington State, we are paying a total of 41.4 cents a gallon (total state and federal)...

I think that's state tax alone...the numbers are old. This is a chart offered as part of an investigation by McKenna's office:

http://www.atg.wa.gov/uploadedFiles/Another/Safeguarding_Consumers/Antitrust/Unfair_Trade_Practices/Gas_Prices/Illustration%2011.pdf

18 cents federal, 36 cents state...and I think we've had an increase since then.