Thursday, February 7, 2008
Dallas-based state senator proposes higher gas taxes
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Texas State Senator John Carona (R-Dallas) thinks there are too many toll roads going up in North Texas, and he's got a plan to cut back on them: raise the state tax on gasoline, from 20 cents/gallon (where it currently stands) to 30 cents/gallon, thereby generating another $1 billion annually to use for fixing our deteriorating roads and highways. (Which need all the help they can get, presently.)
posted by JM
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Comments
Scott Doyle Verified
Smells like bull-poop from here. Is anybody really so naive to think higher gas tax will stop toll roads from being built?
Mr. Carona, were you not paying attention when we simply wanted to reroute one? Did the Trinity Project ordeal not prove that, at least in Dallas County, the majority of citizens (who voted) aren't averse to toll roads? You can't even pay attention to the people's preference in your own city?!
Answer me!
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
Point of clarification: I realize the money to build and maintain roads/infrastructure has to come from somewhere. But don't feed us this crap in your efforts to raise it; the toll roads are gonna go up regardless.
I don't disagree with the concept of people who use that particular roadway paying for its cost. I very much disagree with those citizens paying even more taxes on top of tolls. I'm not seeing a negative correlation between the two - at least, the construction of tollways to date hasn't offered up any tax relief that I can recall. How in the world am I to believe that increasing gas tax will halt plans for more tollways?
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
wolverb Anonymous
Go ahead and pile it on. Gas prices are already killing us and the economy plus the Feds want to raise the gas tax. How about taking the money from some area where its being wasted and give it to the repairs of the hwys. Forget any new or additional taxes. If we have to cut our budgets so should the state. Use some of that gas windfall money. Any elected official that recommends raising taxes should be removed from office immediately.
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
To Mr. Polunsky, Committee Director of the Senate Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security who apparently joined us yesterday simply so he could email me:
Even if I wanted to revise my posts, I couldn't. Fortunately, I feel no need.
Since you're a new user to the site, seems you aren't aware that when we comment (at least, when I comment), it's generally in jest. So, when I address Senator Carona directly, I'm not exactly expecting a response (but the service is awesome!).
Y'all direct me to the linked article, in which the Senator apparently did not suggest that no more toll roads would be built (forgive the double-negative). Allow me to quote:
Texas needs to put the brakes on toll roads in Dallas-Fort Worth, he said. "There are 14 toll projects under consideration in this area, versus only six in Houston," he said. "Don't overload us. We just want balance."
It certainly seems to me that Senator Carona is discussing putting a stop to toll roads in the same breath as a higher gas tax - let's not split hairs. And the increase isn't nominal; we're talking 50%, seemingly a result of our elected officials sending transportation funds elsewhere. Now you want us to foot the bill...again?
I'm a bigger fan of the debt idea.
At any rate, I appreciate your response on behalf of Senator Carona. I understand y'all are in a tough spot. Hopefully you smell what I'm stepping in as a DFW commuter who'd rather not pay 50% more taxes on top of the tolls.
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
EdWeirdness Anonymous
Bizarre! We build roads to places where no urban sprawl exists, and BLAM! somebody discovers real estate on the property! The legislature borrowed from the highway fund for other purposes that we, the people refused to fund via additional taxes. No means NO! You morons in Austin seem to believe that we, the people are idiots. Overpopulation, congestion, urban sprawl, crumbling infrastructure, pollution, crime, depressed wages, increased tax burdens, failing schools, inadequate health care, are all the result of too many people chasing too few resources. If we stop building roads and focus on maintaining and enhancing the roads we have, whats the downside? The overpopulation of our state, the demands on our diminishing resources might decline, not much to argue with there. So far I haven't seen an argument that Texas has to much blue sky and wide open space. Nor has anyone offered that there isn't enough pavement. The argument that fewer malls and housing developments will be built on what little green space remains, not much of a penalty there. Fewer companies will move to Texas to take advantage of our tax breaks, incentives and low wages, also not much of an argument in favor of "paving paradise". Fewer small towns and family farms will be destroyed by growth simply to beget more growth, I'm not seeing much to advocate building more roads on spec or for toll roads regardless of who builds and manages them. I certainly wouldn't allow a company outside the state of Texas to make one skinny dime off these projects. Here's a startling concept regarding governance of our state, put all future Road construction projects on a public referendum, let Texans manage the growth of Texas not some yankee bureaucrats, business visionary's, or spanish construction mogul! Build and maintain what you can afford without "drilling" the states tax payers! So what if someone doesn't like our roads and decides to build elsewhere, not every person and business in the world will or should fit inside Texas. Certainly Texas tax payers shouldn't be burdened with building a road system so they can take advantage of cheaper real estate or the self inflicted wound of their suburban lifestyle. Has anyone noticed that there are forecasts of a shortage of clean drinking water throughout the southwest during the next decade? Somebody please explain to me how even more people, chasing fewer resources will address any of the problems facing the Citizens of Texas?
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
ericthegardener Anonymous
Ed, I'm not sure whether I agree with you or not. Paragraph breaks would help.
No offense intended.
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
John McClelland Verified
I just want to point out, if the gas tax is increased, the price at the pump may not necessarily increase.
http://www.api.org/statistics/fueltaxes/ has a list of the state gas taxes. You will note some states have a higher tax than Texas, but at the same time their price at the pump is generally the same as ours.
Price at the pump is determined by supply and demand, and of course the greed of oil companies who drive the market. Oil companies and suppliers could do the right thing and leave the pump price alone. If they can look past their greed (which is an IF), they can take the 10 cent per gallon loss on their margin.
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Scott Doyle Verified
I severely doubt anybody in the supply chain is willing to absorb that dime per gallon.
When prices of unleaded started increasing steadily, the price gap between various octanes followed suit - doubt this case is any different. They're in the business of making money, not having their margins suddenly cut into. I'm pretty confident they'll pass that cost along to you and I.
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
luniz Anonymous
Maybe I'm the only one, but I think the highways in Texas are generally in pretty good shape, at least the ones that were built well in the first place. Not that I've driven on every single highway in the state...
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
Pavel Lishin Verified
Ah, oil companies, our silent multi-national friends. Sure, they'll take one for the team! After all, their job is to be our pals!
Luniz, take I-75 to 635, and then take 635 east until you find a stretch of it that's in pretty good shape.
5 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
EdWeirdness Anonymous
Visit http://Texastollparty.com for some insight on the whole toll road thing.
4 months, 3 weeks ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )
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