Automotive News, Media & Press - 40-cent Gasoline-Tax INCREASE Proposed

People need to call their US Respresntatives and Senators and tell them NO! to a large tax increase on a gallon of gas.

From an article in the AP today, a panel created by congress is calling for immediate action. They say that since the last time the federal gas tax was increased was in 1993, we have a desperate need to increase the tax by $0.40/gallon over the next 5 years. They also propose indexing the tax to inflation, so it would be automatically increased each year based on the rate of inflation.

The thing is, the money from the gas tax gets spent for many things other than the highways we drive on with the gas we buy. The article states that the money would be used to fix the infrastructure, expand public transit and highways, as well as broaden railway and rural access.

I retired from the "road " business and I watched our elected oficials all over the country absolutely piss the money at "pet" projects for my 30+ year career. Now they want us to pay more, increase it automatically so it doesn't take a vote, and expand and revitalize public transportation even to a greater extent with the tax from gas.

On a positive note, Rep. Mica from Florida is quoted as saying a "dramatic increase doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell of passing..." But everybody who drives a car should be telling these jokers we want gas taxes spent on highways, and that the people riding public transportation and the railways need to fund their own needs.

WTF we cannot afford more expensive gas!!!

W

who is trying to push this through? demo's or rep's or both?

What a great idea.:angel:

This group should win something for such a great idea. Surely this .40 cents per gal would help with millions and millions of new jobs. This would be great for our already slow economy. Charge another .40 cents per gal over the next five years.

I don't know about you sports fans but in the last ten years I have given up boating, racing, and driving from Ohio to the farm in Tennessee. All because of the cost of fuel and every other product going up and up and up while the value of my holdings go down and down

I think it's time to replace all political office holders. They seldom represent the districts or individuals who sent them to political office. I am not picking on a political party over another. I am saying ALL in general are the same:

:secret2: An old man and his dog!

im already going broke buying gas for my gas guzzler :(

smart car + Busa 1300 = Good Gas & Fun to drive:devil:

If they take this .4 of a dollar and put it into solar and wind power then fine...but otherwise no!!! I think a sacrifice for a goal is fine...but not just to feed the fucking beast that is our fed gov.

W

If they raise the gas tax, but lower the income tax, I'm all for it. But if there is no tax trade-off, then no thanks.

LOL, funny thing is all they would have to do is tell you they would spend it on alternate energy sources, and everyone would jump on it. Yeah, and then 10 years later we would wonder why they are asking for another large hike when the same people asking are the ones raking in all the money.

GET REAL, the last thing this government needs is more money, they need governing!

This is what happens when we start letting the government govern itself. :mad:

The gov actually spends a significant amount of money on alternative energies, else there is nil incentive for the industries to pursue alt. energy because it is not entirely cost effective. There are serious subsidies going on, especially wind power how else do you think companies would move to plunk down big money for 225 ton unreliable generators sitting a couple hundred feet in the air on speculation alone?

As for the gas tax, believe me, you'll be thanking them for just 40cents a gallon. Wait till you see the entire sum of infrastructure upgrades and medical costs, which we'll probably have a better idea of in 5-10 years. The heyday of low taxes is waning varying on how bad the relative economies are going to be.

The gov actually spends a significant amount of money on alternative energies, else there is nil incentive for the industries to pursue alt. energy because it is not entirely cost effective. There are serious subsidies going on, especially wind power how else do you think companies would move to plunk down big money for 225 ton unreliable generators sitting a couple hundred feet in the air on speculation alone?

As for the gas tax, believe me, you'll be thanking them for just 40cents a gallon. Wait till you see the entire sum of infrastructure upgrades and medical costs, which we'll probably have a better idea of in 5-10 years. The heyday of low taxes is waning varying on how bad the relative economies are going to be.

:eyes:

Gotta love socialists.

:bang:

The gov actually spends a significant amount of money on alternative energies, else there is nil incentive for the industries to pursue alt. energy because it is not entirely cost effective. There are serious subsidies going on, especially wind power how else do you think companies would move to plunk down big money for 225 ton unreliable generators sitting a couple hundred feet in the air on speculation alone?

As for the gas tax, believe me, you'll be thanking them for just 40cents a gallon. Wait till you see the entire sum of infrastructure upgrades and medical costs, which we'll probably have a better idea of in 5-10 years. The heyday of low taxes is waning varying on how bad the relative economies are going to be.

can i have what youre smoking because youre obviously out of touch with reality. the govt is NOT activily searching for a good renewable resource. case in point... corn based ethanol... WAY to expensive in so many ways to make so umm.. yea.. but the farm lobby is a powerful one;)

the election coming up is extremely important for those of us you don't want taxes going through the roof and ridiculous bills like this getting passed... this would ensure that we go into a recession, like some of us are hoping isn't happening right now

the election coming up is extremely important for those of us you don't want taxes going through the roof and ridiculous bills like this getting passed... this would ensure that we go into a recession, like some of us are hoping isn't happening right now

They're all gonna raise taxes and pass illegal laws. But the jackass party (lol, they could not have picked a more appropriate mascot :D ) will be worse, increase socialism, and above all, try to eliminate the 2nd Amendment <- really the only issue that matters in any election anymore (as in stopping them from doing it).

They could save money in so many ways instead of raising taxes (they could start by leaving the space shuttle on the ground). I thought the taxes I have been paying was for infrustrucure stuff. No more taxes.

Can you have what I'm smoking? No, because the alt. energy sector is doing me quite well at the moment . I'm also well aware of farm subsidies, and believe me... that shit is a gravy train for the large ops not for the paper millionaires(estate taxes will be killing off a large majority of farms not held by companies). But you'd be remiss to think that the gov't isn't spending a lot of coin to funnel to other forms of alternative energy; it has to serve corporate interests as well ya know!

The gov't doesnt search for alt. energy, it's congresses buzzword to appear green.

your vastly out of touch if you think that Big Oil isn't heavily involved with the alternative energies on the implementation side. In fact, they are some of the largest interests in the american alt. energy sector.

Remember: No one cried for the oil companies and their painfully hurting wallets in the early 90's. Why should they care now?


I can't vote for some of the republicans, and I sure as hell can't for the democrats. There's no sensible choice for me. Add to it the medium/long-range economic forecasts and you've got a perfect storm that needs a flawless pilot to guide it through.

Funny how both moderate repubs and dems recently formed a panel discussing this very nightmarish scenario and how the president elected in '08 will be a make or break for the country's.

this whole country is ran by gas prices...if they go up, everything that you need or want will go up due to transporting fees and whatnot...if you jack with one item in the economy it will cause a chain reaction...i believe the best bet to lower the amount of oil usage is to limit the amount of kids familys are allowed (ie. like china does) just my $.02

i believe the best bet to lower the amount of oil usage is to limit the amount of kids familys are allowed (ie. like china does) just my $.02

...oil, food, timber, natural growth woods, water (a bigger concern than people realize), electricity (and thereby anything used to create it), and of course, space.

We are severely over populated. Mostly due to immigration, so slamming that door is the first step, but ONLY the first step.

You should try running an F-body over here! Fuel here is £4.77 per gallon on average which is about $9.40 per gallon at todays exchange rate!

The gov actually spends a significant amount of money on alternative energies, else there is nil incentive for the industries to pursue alt. energy because it is not entirely cost effective. There are serious subsidies going on, especially wind power how else do you think companies would move to plunk down big money for 225 ton unreliable generators sitting a couple hundred feet in the air on speculation alone?

As for the gas tax, believe me, you'll be thanking them for just 40cents a gallon. Wait till you see the entire sum of infrastructure upgrades and medical costs, which we'll probably have a better idea of in 5-10 years. The heyday of low taxes is waning varying on how bad the relative economies are going to be.

And that sounds like the disillusion of a child, The government profits from oil, just like all the big dog oil companies. The government isn't looking out for OUR best interests, they are to busy wildly spending the money we already dish out to them. Rather than take the time to revise their budget they want to ask for MORE, do you really believe what we already pay for gas is totally necessary?

These big oil companies will get serious about Alt. energy when they feel the hurt and not a moment too soon, because they are raking in the cash, and so is our government. With such large profits your telling me we are running out of oil, yet they see record profit margins? Hah right.... They just continue to want more and more.

I would never THANK my government for a 40 cent hike when i see what goes on everyday...This is a democracy, I shouldn't have to worry about being taxed for even more than I think is fair because I can vote.

Also I can't afford medical care because i pay for people, who don't deserve it, to have it. How right is that? Or take notice of the disappearing middle class, the accumulation of wealth up top...what does that tell you? Like they need more of my money. :eyes:

Don't always believe what Big Daddy (the government) tells you. If you think that a business that big doesn't advertise/spew propaganda for their benefit like any other ambitious company, your pretty blind. :nod:

The government does not need this .40c/gal tax to to fund whatever they're trying to fund, and we sure as hell don't need to be paying it either. Private sector is already well under way in the research of alternative fuels. If you want to fund alternative fuel research simply provide companies with TAX INCENTIVES so that they do, rather than forcing them to with TAX BURDENS. This way the burden isn't passed on to us in many ways, shapes and other forms through out the rest of the economy.

This is a democracy, I shouldn't have to worry about being taxed for even more than I think is fair because I can vote.

No it isn't. It never was and was never intended to be. That's leftist propaganda that started in the schools, and nothing more.

It's a Constitutional Republic. There is a severe difference.


1763 - An Essay on Man's Lust for Power

Democracy will soon degenerate into an anarchy, such an anarchy that every man will do what is right in his own eyes and no man's life or property or reputation or liberty will be secure, and every one of these will soon mould itself into a system of subordination of all the moral virtues and intellectual abilities, all the powers of wealth, beauty, wit and science, to the wanton pleasures, the capricious will, and the execrable cruelty of one or a very few.
(sounds an awful lot like what we see today)



Notes on the State of Virginia Query 19, 1781

It is the manners and spirit of a people which preserve a republic in vigor. A degeneracy in these is a canker which soon eats to the heart of its laws and constitution.
(after the war, under the Articles of Confederation, just 6 years before the writing of the Constitution)

I could go on. The point is, democracies are mob rule, tyranny of the majority. The Founders knew this. That's why we have a Constitution, to prevent the gov't from infringing upon rights and freedoms, even if a majority of the public seem to want it (thereby protecting the minority in order to prevent tyranny of the majority).

However, that does not server the liberals needs, so they have poisoned the school system and ever child in the nation, generation after generation, so that they can do whatever they wish, however they wish.


Also I can't afford medical care because i pay for people, who don't deserve it, to have it. How right is that?

Yep, gotta love the socialists.


Or take notice of the disappearing middle class, the accumulation of wealth up top...what does that tell you? Like they need more of my money. :eyes:

The less money you have, the more you need to spend. Case in point, right now, I am struggling to make ends meet and can not afford to buy a vehicle which would use less fuel. Which means, if I had more money, I could save more money. And this goes into home utility bills, and even mortgage as well (have enough cash on hand and you can get a nice small monthly payment, otherwise it's exorbitant and you struggle to get ahead).

Couple that with an ability to invest (spare cash to burn), and in many cases, enough money to buy high end items (valuable cars and works of art, vs that 91 Ford Taurus and Spencers poster us poor people can afford (just some random examples for the sake of example)), and they end up not throwing money away because everything they have appreciates.

A flat tax would help, but it still won't stop people with enough money (and brains) from spending it in beneficial ways, and you will ALWAYS see the rich get richer and poor get poorer.

$750 L98, nice job picking and choosing, read my other post dumbass. If you had a proper understanding of frame of reference then you'd understand. I was looking at specifically the alt. energy sector and it's intrinsic ties to the corps.

DrkPhynx is correct, this country is not a democracy, and it's a fallacy to believe so. Come now, believing your votes matter? Then explain the electoral college.

Being tied to the energy sector and seeing FIRST HAND the financial impact of the alternative energy, the oil companies are involved with alternative energy.
I'm well versed in how much gov't squanders, state gov'ts as well. Which is more of a personal fact because I despise paying taxes that knowingly end up only producing 15% of intended result.

Are you one of those conspiracy theorists? Or merely a blind citizen?

Pissed about med. insurance? Go take it up the liberal nutcases who decide that everyone and their extended family deserve all the care that their former countries cant provide. This is why universal healthcare only works in certain countries.


and I WOULD thank them for a 40cent increase because it'll pale in comparison to the other ****ing taxes and a leftist/socialist/liberal hippy wants, so it'll be the least painful thus I'll be thankful for it.

Here's the summary, and I'm not attacking anyone personally, merely argumentatively:
Its known that this country has some truly spectacular costs looming on the horizon, healthcare,infrastructure, homeland "fauxcurity" etc. Knowing this, congress has indeed misappropriated vast chunks of it, and they have always had the mentality of "why correct spending? Raise taxes!" knowing that they will never fix this process, we are forced to swallow their idiocy. Most of the alternative energy processes are not what they are cracked up to be; i.e. Wind power has large maintenance, hydro has a finite limit on capacity, fusion will be far from cheap to operate. So if only 5 cents of that 40 cents went to actually doing something, then its better than having nothing.


Remember this: a tyranny is where people fear the government.

If we weren't the world's 911 call, while spending billions and billions on wars then we probably wouldn't have to worry about this, Then we could spend the billions of dollars on alternative fuels and possibly not watch the value of our $$ keep going down and down.... Then possibly we wouldn't be hated by most of the world....

Politcians like to get re-elected. And as much as they like to raise taxes as a quick fix to problems, even they realize that certain things will cost them a re-election if they push too far too fast.

They will not raise gas taxes by $0.40/gallon in the near term. People are *just* starting to become used to $3/gallon gas. A hike like that would be a major issue, leading to a shake up of state reps and senators. Not to mention, if that hike came at the same time as a gulf coast hurricane, we could see $5/gallon gas or more overnight. That would be the final blow to an already unstable economy. Considering this next presidential election will be the 1st term for the victor, that president knows that such an issue could easily mean defeat in 2012.

I feel that a 40 cent/gallon tax hike is neither necessary nor justifiable. What should happen is the government should break up the big companies, such as Exxon-Mobil, back into separate companies, such as Exxon and Mobil, and not allow merger after merger to occur. After all, competition is good for everyone. Our government needs to actually balance the budget and correct its spending rather than just increasing taxes. Hiking taxes to correct spending is like putting a band-aid on a bullet wound. The government should also limit the amount of foreign oil we take in and start increasing the amount of oil we get from Texas and Alaska. And to stop the depreciation of the dollar, we NEED to take away the ability to "make" money from the Federal Reserve Bank, a PRIVATELY OWNED COMPANY. That's why our money is depreciating so severely; the bankers create billions of dollars out of thin air to fund Bush's "war", and then the government has to pay interest on that money that the bank just created out of nothing.

Either way I gotta drive, so I guess I am paying. :(

Thats crazy if they are going to due that they at least need to make alternative fuel more available. I would run e85 but I don't feel like driving 20 miles away just to get fuel.

Interesting discussion.

People need to call and write their representatives and tell this and CAFE are bad ideas and to repeal them immediately.

A huge increase in the cost of gasoline will hurt middle and lower-middle class people and in turn our economy. In addition the cost of meeting CAFE requirements may very likely be passed onto the consumer when it comes to buying new vehicles. That could serve to destroy the new car market and US automakers who are already teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.

yeah this is great!

Muscle Car era will definitely be coming to a finish within few years if this keeps up:barf:

They'll just steal and mis manage this money too,

Government workers are way over paid for their skill levels,

Paid holidays, Benefits packages, and retirement

lol

These people produce nothing most of them that will benefit future generations,

They only cost money and there is too many of them to Boot,

Government is inefficent and allows outsourcing of American Jobs to communist countries abroad


Thus we need to spend Much Much less on governement and more on rebuilding our Manufacturing industries,

Government is a Huge Anchor around our waists in a sea of Debt which they have created,

Answer: We need to get rid of our current ststem for it is a complete failure,

lol 40 cent a gallon gas tax

Response: F-off Government you Free loading Parasites

this is almost three yrs old. old news.

Three year old bump = fail

Yea, everyone needs to settle down a little bit. No political figurehead would vote in favor of this in a million years. The only thing congress does well is get nothing done and nonsense like this is a big reason why

Yea, everyone needs to settle down a little bit. No political figurehead would vote in favor of this in a million years. The only thing congress does well is get nothing done and nonsense like this is a big reason why

Sure they won't...

WTF is up with all the ancient thread revival going on this website lately?

WTF is up with all the ancient thread revival going on this website lately?

Hey look on the bright side, at least people are using the search feature!

where is the article regarding this proposed tax increase on fuel?

last time a .40 cent increase was proposed was January 2008.

much of the reason why the economy dropping was gas increasing to around 4.50-5 dollars again a few years ago. If gas is taxed that high again, the economy will drop/fail

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/10/11/obama-infrastructure-pitch-renews-debate-raising-fuel-tax/

looks like it isn't very tangible at this point.

...oil, food, timber, natural growth woods, water (a bigger concern than people realize), electricity (and thereby anything used to create it), and of course, space.

We are severely over populated. Mostly due to immigration, so slamming that door is the first step, but ONLY the first step.

You're ill-informed if you think the U.S. is overpopulated. However, I do agree we need to get control over immigration but not for that reason.

There's also no frickin' reason why we need alternative energy either.

"We're killing the planet."

No, we're not.

"Oil is about to run out."

No, it's not.

"We're polluting the planet."

Combustion-product gases are not pollutants. Carbon dioxide is not by any stretch of the imagination a pollutant.

All of the reasons for wanting magical new technologies are absurd. Oil is dominant because it's ubiquitous and very affordable.

Should we further develop solar technology, wind, tidal, geothermal, etc.? Absolutely. But not for any of the idiotic reasons listed above and others.

There's also no frickin' reason why we need alternative energy either.

"We're killing the planet."

No, we're not.

"Oil is about to run out."

No, it's not.

"We're polluting the planet."

Combustion-product gases are not pollutants. Carbon dioxide is not by any stretch of the imagination a pollutant.

All of the reasons for wanting magical new technologies are absurd. Oil is dominant because it's ubiquitous and very affordable.

Should we further develop solar technology, wind, tidal, geothermal, etc.? Absolutely. But not for any of the idiotic reasons listed above and others.

So you think that combustion products are having no ill-effects whatsoever on the environment? :confused:

So you think that combustion products are having no ill-effects whatsoever on the environment? :confused:

Dont mind him, he cant post anymore @ SSU in the politics forum, and/or doesnt: so he has to get what he can get