Offering frequent news and analysis from the majestic Evergreen State and beyond, The Cascadia Advocate is the Northwest Progressive Institute's unconventional perspective on world, national, and local politics.

Wednesday, September 07, 2005

Temporary gas tax rollback is a stupid idea

Oh, look:
Some state lawmakers [meaning Republicans] want to suspend Washington's gasoline tax for three months, to give drivers a break from prices near $3 a gallon.

State House Republican leader Richard DeBolt of Chehalis says Republicans are behind the idea. The $270 million loss to the Highway budget would be covered by dipping into reserves.
This is a stupid idea, if we've ever heard one. Now is not the time to "dip into reserves". The gas tax pays for the transportation infrastructure that we all use. Rolling it back, even temporarily, is a stupid and dangerous idea that should not even be considered.

We're fighting a campaign right now to oppose a rollback of funding for the 2005 transportation package. And now Republicans want to roll back the entire tax, not just the increase. Temporary rollbacks are the first step to permanent rollbacks, and the excuse will be that "motorists need a break from prices".

What's going to happen when we have our own disaster here in Washington? Who's going to "give us a break" if the viaduct falls down or the floating bridge collapses? Or both happen, and worse? Then what "reserves" will Republicans propose we tap into?

The article goes on to state:
Governor Gregoire didn't immediately dismiss the idea. Aides say she is discussing with lawmakers whether the 31 cent per gallon tax should be lowered until prices stabilize this fall.

The governor's office says no decision has been made about calling a special legislative session or suspending the tax by emergency executive order, and no tax-cut level has been agreed to.
No. The answer is no. The gas tax should not be lowered. There should not be a "temporary rollback" and there should not be a "permanent rollback".

If we don't invest in transportation infrastructure, our regional economy will be destroyed regardless. The state cannot afford to lose any more revenue. Eyman tax cut initiatives have already hurt the state financially. The gas tax should not be touched. Additionally, Initiative 912 must be defeated.

Hurricane Katrina did not seriously destroy oil production in the Gulf of Mexico. The real problem is that America has lost one if its major ports, and refinery capacity is down. Why does it make sense to let oil companies continue to profit and have the state lose money at the same time? This proposal is entirely ridiculous!

Solutions, instead of having the government "cut taxes", include encouraging conservation of gasoline, asking more people to use mass transit options, and to carpool. That will also aid traffic congestion.

Temporary rollbacks are a terrible idea. Tell Governor Christine Gregoire: Absolutely NO temporary gas tax rollbacks!

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