VOTE AGAINST A 4-CENT PER GALLON TAX ON GAS IN LOUISIANA.

American Press ^ | September 13, 2003 | AP

[Yosemitest]

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS 6 AND 7: Published 9/13

Vote for infrastructure amendments

We recommend passage of Amendments 6 and 7 in the Oct. 4 election in which state voters will decide whether to add up to 15 amendments to the state constitution.

Amendment 6 would make a change in the Transportation Infrastructure Model for Economic Development program.

That program funds 16 transportation projects through a 4-cent per gallon tax on gasoline.

The amendment would make changes in the program in order to correct mistakes made in original planning. Since the segments of highway to be improved in the programs are fixed in the constitution, amendments must be passed to change any of the projects included in the program.

The changes to be made would include:

* The four-laning of an additional 7.7 miles of U.S. 61 on either side of St. Francisville. The additional portions were erroneously left out of the original project.

* A stretch of La. 425 rather than U.S. 165 between Bastrop and the Arkansas border will be four-laned. La. 425 meets a four-lane Arkansas highway that provides a direct route to Little Rock.

* Planned four-laning of La. 15 from Archibald to Monroe will be eliminated since a four-lane highway already connects Archibald to Interstate 20, which runs through Monroe.

If the amendment is approved, cost of the TIMED project would be reduced by $62.6 million.

Amendment 7 would clear the way for the Louisiana Infrastructure Band, created in 1997, to make low-interest loans to parishes, municipalities or the state Department of Transportation and Development to build roads and highways.

In 1998, voters rejected a proposed amendment that would have allowed LIB to loan public funds for capital improvement projects.

This amendment would limit the use of LIB loans to roads and highways.

Passage of the amendment would allow an exception to the prohibition against the donation, pledge or loan of public funds that is in the state constitution.

If the amendment is passed, infrastructure projects would have to be approved by the Department of Transportation and Development before becoming eligible for loans from the Infrastructure bank.

All loans would require State Bond Commission approval.

It is not currently clear how the bank would be funded. Passing the amendment would clear the way for the bank to eventually become operable.

[Yosemitest]

I've had it with Louisiana wasting my money. How much tax-per-gallon of gas are they receiving now? It's time to start putting some politians in jail for mis-appropriating state funds.

VOTE NO ON AMENDMENT 6!!!!!

[Yosemitest]

I forgot. The election is this Saturday, October 4, 2003.

[isiti]

Last time a gas tax was on the ballot, the govenor swore up and down that it would only be applied to roads and bridges.One year latter, they were dipping into the fund to pay transportation releated leagal judgements against the state.

They will never get a tax increase vote from me.

[Bogey78O]

Well if this passes that would bump us up to IIRC 42.4 cents per gallon. Heh, we're taxing gas at almost 40%

[Yosemitest]

The way I read the sample ballot, it only stated maintenance on roads and didn't address the increase in tax. I had to go to the actual bill and to commentary by the papers to discover the tax increase.

These sneaky politicians... a pox on their houses!!!

[Yosemitest]

Thanks for the updated total tax of 42.4 cents per gallon. We need signs at every gas pump in LOUSYanna displaying this outrage!

[Mudbug]

I am voting FOR amendment 6, but against 7. You are mistaken if you think that either of these amendments changes the amount of gas tax collected.

All Amendment 6 does is change three TIMED highway routes for a net savings of $62.6 million. Amendment 7 would provide constitutional authority for the Louisiana Infrastructure Bank the legislature set up in 1997. The federal government promotes Infrastructure Banks to accelerate construction and many other states have such entities. The intention here is to leverage local road construction/maintenance projects, but this amendment has some problems.

I don’t see how they’re going to capitalize this bank. These loans would require additional local taxes for debt service, (but I'd be willing to pay the tax if they would just fix the roads). I think it's a bad idea to invest state pension money in these types of loans. Moreover, there’s no language in the amendment prohibiting loans to private entities. I think the minuses outweigh the pluses on this one.

PAR has a good summary of all the amendments on the ballot:

http://www.la-par.org/old/citizen/Constitution/Guide2003.htm

[Mudbug]

I had to go to the actual bill and to commentary by the papers to discover the tax increase.

I have read both Acts (No. 1299 and No. 1301) and several commentaries. Nobody else sees any tax increases. What on earth are you talking about?

[Yosemitest]

Did you not read the initial article?

That program funds 16 transportation projects through a 4-cent per gallon tax on gasoline.

[Skooz]

They will never get a tax increase vote from me.

Amen! It will be my great pleasure to vote NO to this.

[kms61]

The four cent tax it talks about was levied in 1989. This amendment levies no new taxes at all. Folks, before starting a thread about something, please make sure you understand the issue first. Thanks.

[Mudbug]

Yes, the program funds transportation projects through and EXISTING 4-cent tax. Amendment 6 does nothing to change this. It only changes the project routes.

[Mudbug]

I glad someone esle has bothered to read the actual amendments.

[Mudbug]

Who's asking you to vote for a tax increase?

[Skooz]

I was responding to post 3.