'This is their worst nightmare right now'
Falling gas prices have been like an early, unexpected Christmas present for millions of motorists and working families.
With average pump prices about 60 cents lower than they were a year ago and a dollar lower than they were this summer, many families might find they’re able to put a few more presents under the tree this year.
But don’t get too excited.
Politicians in some states are already devising plans to play Scrooge and snatch the savings before they can even be fully realized.
Seeing the falling fuel prices as an opportunity, legislators and governors in several states are eyeing their state gas taxes as ripe for an increase.
As the theory goes, it’s better to raise the gas tax when prices at the pump are low, even if it’s just a temporary blip, so consumers won’t notice what has been done to them.
Republican governors in Michigan, Georgia, New Jersey, Utah and South Carolina are all pondering hikes in their states’ gas tax, while Democrat governors in Delaware, Vermont and Kentucky are also considering increases. In a few cases, such as in South Carolina, the increases have been proposed by legislators by opposed by the governor.
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Lower gas prices are going to kill our transportation infrastructure. It's a simple fact.
ReplyDeleteNot necessarily 11:59, the tax increase won't be needed if the spending problems are rectified.
Delete12:12
ReplyDeleteGas tax goes to transportation funding. If that revenue goes down, so will availability of funds. Transportation budgets are already tight and usually siphoned off everywhere. If you think officials are going to funnel money INTO transportation budgets, you are way too naive.
Most fuel taxes are per gallon and not the dollar amount. Doesn't matter if gas is $2 or $5 a gal, , gov. still gets the full tax.
ReplyDelete6:00 PM
DeleteMy point exactly. If anything lower gas prices will entice people to drive more in turn bringing in more tax revenue. More gallons sold = more taxes coming in so therefore the way that the current revenue is being spent needed to be addressed.