Local GOP objects to Doty's support of gas tax hike

Morrison County Record ^ | February 29, 2008 | Unknown

[JavaJumpy]

Morrison County Engineer and Public Works Director Steven Backowski said that, in 2007, the county used $300,000 in property tax revenue to cover maintenance costs on the county state-aid highway system (CSAH). Backowski said, "We never had to use property taxes for CSAH until last year."

But Nouis said, "People who are finding a hard time paying for gas now will have an even harder time thanks to their DFL representatives. The DFL made a concerted effort to pass this tax increase and they should take all of the credit."

The bill will phase in an increase of 8.5 cents per gallon gasoline tax, beginning with 2 cents April 1 followed by 3 cents more Oct. 1. Also included will be 3.5 cents to pay for $1.8 billion in bonding for projects between 2009 and 2018. It also will increase vehicle tab fees, and adds, in the seven metropolitan counties only, a 0.25 percent sales tax increase and a $20 excise tax on vehicle sales to pay for mass transit. In the other 80 counties, including Morrison, the sales tax may be raised 0.5 percent by referendum only and then only to pay for a specified project.

"Prices for food and other goods will increase because transportation costs for businesses are simply passed on to consumers," Nouis said. "As you hear in the coming days that this tax increase was necessary because of the dire situation of our transportation system, keep in mind that voters made a wise decision in November 2006 to pass a ballot measure that dedicated all gas tax funds to transportation purposes. The funds for transportation are there and have been there. The state has, to the detriment of transportation needs, spent those funds on other priorities."

[JavaJumpy]

Wow - I thought it was the oil companies!

[Diana in Wisconsin]

“The state has, to the detriment of transportation needs, spent those funds on other priorities.”

Our ‘Rat Governor uses our State Transportation Fund as his personal Piggy Bank. Just TRY to miss a pothole on any road in this state. Just TRY to miss rolling chunks of concrete on our Interstate System.

See, it’s all part of “The Plan” to get us out of our cars and onto bikes, onto a train, or walking everywhere because we live like rats in high-rise cages in the middle of decaying cities where our Overlords can keep a better eye on us!

Cars are EVIL! Evil, I say! *SMIRK*

[the anti-liberal]

I'm sure that was a /sarc, but here's this anyway:

They need more money then they're already getting, to fund the new Marxist paradise promised by the O-messiah.

And remember, this image doesn't include the Federal take.

The government makes more money from then all of the oil companies combined - and without the risk. All so they can make matters even worse with their tinkering.