Posted on 01/04/2015 11:52:21 AM PST by Olog-hai
Most of the excise taxes credited to the HTF are not collected by the Federal government directly from the consumer. They are, instead, paid to the Internal Revenue Service by the producer or importer of the taxable product (except in the cases of the tax on trucks and trailers, which is paid by the retailer, and the heavy vehicle use tax, which is paid by the heavy vehicle owner). As a result, most of the Federal fuel taxes come from a handful of States, those where major oil companies are headquartered, and most tire taxes are paid from Ohio, the home of the U.S. tire industry. Of course, these taxes become part of the price of the product and are ultimately paid by the highway user.Just another Ponzi scheme.
User taxes are deposited in the General Fund of the Treasury and the amounts equivalent to these taxes are then transferred on paper to the HTF. Transfers are made at least monthly on the basis of estimates by the Secretary of the Treasury and later adjusted on the basis of actual tax receipts. Amounts in the HTF in excess of current expenditure requirements are invested in public debt securities. Until October 1, 1998, the securities were interest-bearing and interest from the securities was credited to the fund. Since that time, the HTF balance has been invested in non-interest-bearing securities. …
There is no “beauty” in any such tax.
Most roads in the USA used to be toll roads, and owned by the private sector; that is until the progressives came along and had the states take over the roads.
It wouldn’t be able to afford it anyway.
Toll roads and bridges weren’t taken over by the government because they were failing.
I don’t think so John.
Lovely - so much for “smaller government” and “lower taxes”...
What people just don’t seem to want to wrap their minds around - the Federal Government takes in MORE than enough money to provide for 100% of the CONSTITUTIONAL Responsibilities of the Federal Government. Indeed, I have seen some pretty eye-opening numbers over the years regarding what the Federal budget would look like if restricted to Constitutional bounds... Lets just say we all would have more money in our pockets, and the government would likely actually take in more revenue due to it (thus having more money to further improve on the Constitutional responsibilities).
Let us not forget the subsidies and kick-backs to encourage people to buy/lease electric and hybrid vehicles... that also contributes to the lower revenue from gas taxes.
How about no more subsidies for these vehicles, and instead - since they ARE using the same roads that fuel-burning drivers are paying for, put a GPS tracker in THEIR vehicle and/or track miles driven and charge them for using the roads they are NOT paying for... Wy should I pay a tax so that Johnny Tree-hugger Prius gets a free ride?
B*stards! All they think of is burdening the populace.
“In 2012 the federal Government spent $3,600,000,000,000.00 dollars. Guess thats not enough for you? Fresh out of spare change are we?”
Nope, not when we can have A LOT of upgraded and widened roads if we spend $3,611,000,000,000.00 instead. I’m willing to spend the extra 0.3% needed for decent roads.
Maybe just an across-the-board 1% cut in Social Security spending to cover it, perhaps?
Yea, that’s basically how I see it.
The problem with road pricing is that roads are worth a LOT MORE to people than they cost to build and maintain...roughly 10 to 20 times as much. That’s why some roads now cost $1.00 per mile to drive to on, and nearly all toll roads cost 10 to 30 cents to drive on, whereas the federal gas tax (for an average car) is about 1 PENNY per mile.
How about neither. I can’t believe there are conservatives willing to accept more taxes like its just our duty.
Raise taxes, expand government? I thought Republicans won the election.
Republicrats Assemble!
You mean more union kickbacks and graft. Every few yrs the left in both parties trot out the infrastructure is rotting canard to raise taxes again. Pass.
If we had REAL Conservatives instead of RINO bastards we wouldn’t be faced with either tax increases or GPS Tracking.
I am good with eliminating Social Security (in all its forms), Medicare, Medicaid, All wealth transfer payments including EITC. In fact anything to do with so called safety nets including FEMA tax transfers. Just return the money people paid into the government for any such program and let people live their lives responsibly as they see fit. Kill DOEnergy, DOEducation DOCommerce, EPA, Interior, Downsize homeland security to its pre Bush configuration and restore our liberty.
If you cant live your life responsibly and take care of yourself then...dont ask me to do it for you.
Republicans have a hard time not thinking of themselves as the tax collectors for the profligacy of the Democrats and the Bushes.
Dammit...that line usually works here. Most FReepers GO BALLISTIC when you mention touching their precious Social Security. They have no problem cutting the goodies to other people, but NOT TO THEMSELVES.
I’ll have to come up with something else - maybe finance the new highways with a 100% tax on gun sales instead? LOL.
There is no either/or to that. It is already mandated for 2015 cars and after. The gas tax will be raised along with new monthly bills sent for recorded highway use. I don't remember how long it is until all pre 2015 cars have to be retrofitted or off the road but I believe that is in there, too.
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