Posted on 03/30/2017 11:11:51 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
California’s governor and legislative leaders on Wednesday proposed raising $52 billion to fix the state’s roads through a big gasoline tax increase, higher car registration fees and a charge on emission-free vehicles.
The 10-year plan would boost gasoline excise taxes for the first time in more than two decades, raising them 12 cents per gallon — a 43 percent increase. The tax would rise automatically with inflation.
For the first time, owners of zero emission vehicles would pay a $100 annual fee because they use public roads but don’t pay gasoline taxes that fund highway maintenance.
The plan also includes a sliding fee on vehicles, with owners of cheaper vehicles paying less. The fee, separate from annual vehicle registration fees, would range from $25 a year for vehicles worth less than $5,000 to $175 for cars worth $60,000 and up.
Gov. Jerry Brown said the plan would cost most drivers less than $10 per month and would be offset by reduced vehicle-repair expenses. The governor and Democratic legislative leaders hope to rush it through the Legislature next week.
“Yes, it costs money. And if the roof in your house is leaking, you better fix it, because it gets worse all the time,” Brown said at a Capitol news conference. “This is mostly about fixing what we already have. If for some reason people try to fight this, and God help us if they were successful, they won’t defeat this, they’ll just delay it and make the expenses go up.”
the only solution is to privatize all state highways & roads and eliminate the state gas tax
And the state either will not, or can not, account for the EXISTING $0.28 per gallon tax or the exorbitant licensing fees.
While the state GOP is virtually worthless, at least they could run an ad campaign asking “Where’s the Money”?
That money will go to Caltrans employees higher wages and pensions, not to fixing roads.
Yeah, but in this case he is going after all that drive and almost all welfare losers also drive and get they would pay more to drive.
If this takes a vote of the PEOPLE, he loses.
If a super majority of Democrats force this into law they will be hated and you will see Republicans gain and the loss of a Democrat super majority for at least 12 years.
Well there are a lot of people in California who are ultra-concerned over global warming/climate change and automobile’s contribution to that ... so why are they on the road to begin with? They should not be driving a fossil fuel vehicle to begin with.
“hydrogen fueled vehicles”
that’s a remote emission vehicle too: hydrogen has to be manufactured and compressed; the energy to do that comes from burning carbon fuels.
Yeah, they all need to move to the cities and live in Japanese style 600 sq. ft. cubicle houses. Practice what they preach (unless they’re holier-than-thou academics).
Because they are hypocrites. How else will they get to their Mother Earth meetings. They buy clothing that oil produced or are a result of refining (plastic’s etc) then march in those clothes against big oil. Whatever they use is provided by oil powered machinery and oil byproducts. There was a big protest about a drilling rig being berthed in Seattle harbor on its way up north. Guess what? These ultra-liberal earth huggers came out paddling their fiberglass kayaks made out of and produced by - you guessed it, oil. Ever see the result of these people during an Earth Day run? The garbage they leave on the streets? Then too, the tons of garbage and trash they leave behind on some field during a protest.
Shovel ready jobs?
Liberals lie and you know it will only start at .12 cents per taxpayer and quickly jump up to several dollars per taxpayer while the politicians find ways to divert the funds into their own pockets.
Agreed.
Now, now. There will be at least 1 or 2 potholes cold patched for each billion collected.
WE ALREADY PAY the highest gas taxes in the country WHERE the HELL is that money!!! April 1st cigarettes are being taxed 2.00 more a pack this state SUCKS!!! Can’t wait to get the HELL out if here!!! If I could move my 88 year old mom I would be GONE tomorrow!!!
WE RECALLED Grey Davis for less than this!!! MOONBEAM is an IDIOT!!!
You are absolutely right, I will calm down! Thank you!
“Zero emission vehicles — I wonder if that includes bicycles.”
Bicycles aren’t wearing out the roads like a 4,500-5,000 pound Tesla does.
Even the Roadster is 3,000 pounds, which is more than a Toyota Corolla weighs.
“Bicycles aren’t wearing out the roads like a 4,500-5,000 pound Tesla does.”
Cars don’t wear out roads. The big rigs and dump trucks are the ones.
The condition of the roads in California would be much, much better if half of Mexico weren’t driving on them.
The condition of the roads in California would be much, much better if half of Mexico weren’t driving on them.
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