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Stick a fork in ‘em..
Posted by Duncan on July 19th, 2008
WASHINGTON — The political vision of a summer gas tax holiday died a quick death in Congress, losing to a view that federal excise taxes on gasoline and diesel fuel — far from dropping — will have to go up if they go anywhere.
Despite calls from the presidential campaign trail for a Memorial Day-to-Labor Day tax freeze, lawmakers quickly concluded — with a prod from the construction industry — that having $9 billion less to spend on highways could create a pre-election specter of thousands of lost jobs.
Now, lawmakers quietly are talking about raising fuel taxes by a dime from the current 18.4 cents a gallon on gasoline and 24.3 cents on diesel fuel.
Sheesh. And the Democrat controlled Congress thought that this is a good idea? With their approval rating at an abysmal low, I guess they figured it couldn’t get any lower…
Ofcourse, Gabe over at Ace of Spades HQ had this brilliant thought..
House Transportation Committee Chair Jim Oberstar continues to press for a gas tax increase. He believes that a tax hike of a dime per gallon will be necessary to pay for highway construction next year because the “Highway Trust Fund” is running on empty. I called Oberstar’s office and asked if he thought the trust fund would last longer if he didn’t spend more than it took in. He said he didn’t understand the question.
….
In September, Porkbusting Senator Tom Coburn identified $2 billion worth of earmarks in this year’s transportation and housing authorization plus an additional $6 billion to be paid on prior authorizations. Oberstar should go after that money before coming after ours.
Sheesh. This will go over like a fart in church…. but ya know what… I bet the Democrats Communists still gain seats in Congress this year…
July 20th, 2008 at 7:54 am
State by state listing of job losses if a gas tax holiday happens:
http://apnews.myway.com//article/20080719/D920V5LG0.html
State Money Lost Job Loss
Ala. $143 4,982
Alaska $62 2,153
Ariz. $142 4,923
Ark. $90 3,119
Calif. $664 23,107
Colo. $96 3,351
Conn. $98 3,422
Del. $28 980
D.C. $29 1,002
Fla. $361 12,569
Ga. $261 9,078
Hawaii $30 1,055
Idaho $53 1,834
Ill. $245 8,524
Ind. $184 6,390
Iowa $83 2,870
Kan. $73 2,531
Ky. $124 4,298
La. $115 4,011
Maine $32 1,113
Md. $116 4,021
Mass. $124 4,300
Mich. $208 7,247
Minn. $113 3,938
Miss. $85 2,952
Mo. $167 5,820
Mont. $67 2,348
Neb. $53 1,845
Nev. $52 1,794
N.H. $33 1,135
N.J. $191 6,637
N.M. $66 2,309
N.Y. $334 11,602
N.C. $203 7,071
N.D. $44 1,546
Ohio $256 8,901
Okla. $110 3,842
Ore. $83 2,881
Pa. $330 11,493
R.I. $37 1,291
S.C. $117 4,069
S.D. $47 1,623
Tenn. $155 5,385
Texas $587 20,431
Utah $51 1,787
Vt. $30 1,040
Va. $188 6,539
Wash. $126 4,371
W.Va. $77 2,691
Wis. $137 4,774
Wyo. $46 1,608
Nation $7,148 248,600
July 20th, 2008 at 7:55 am
er, make that money losses which equate job losses.
I find it to be strange that we must increase a tax simply to keep people working.
And that’s what this is all about. Roads need attention but come on!
July 20th, 2008 at 8:21 am
I have no problem paying extra in order to maintain our roads and that infrastructure, but I wonder how much of my tax $$$ every time I fill up are used in an efficient manner.
And I thought Gabe made an excellent point, instead of raising taxes, spend what you have, just like I do when I set my budget. Perhaps use the tax dollars on the roads who need it most, a little road triage if you will….
July 20th, 2008 at 8:22 am
And excellent point about the feds using this as a New Deal Jobs Program Raven…
July 20th, 2008 at 8:39 am
I think this could be just the beginning of rising taxes. We elect Obama, we better get used to it.
July 20th, 2008 at 9:29 am
Road triage?
I like it. It makes sense and since all of us have to live within our means, so should our government. I wish I had the luxury of simply increasing my wage at will, like they raise our taxes….