P-I gets it right: No tax pandering
Following up on my commentary earlier today, the P-I chimes in:
In a blatant bit of off-session pandering, House Republicans have called on Gov. Christine Gregoire to call the Legislature into special session to suspend the state's gas tax for three monthsThat's exactly right. It's time to talk about conservation, mass transit options, carpooling, and the investigation of price gouging. It is NOT time to financially bleed the state of Washington of desperately needed revenues that should be used to improve our transportation infrastructure.
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Could this be the same House Republican Caucus that decried the governor's budget for "reducing our reserves to dangerously low levels"?
Unfortunately, Gregoire is not dismissing this silly notion out of hand but is willing to "take a look at all reasonable options; but we're not sure that this is a reasonable option," a spokesperson said.
It makes no more sense to pilfer the general fund reserves -- the rainy day money to be used for unanticipated state expenditures -- than it does to shortchange transportation funding.
Rising gasoline prices should be met with responsible public policy debates, not publicity stunts.