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First, only 60% of the fuel tax collected actually goes to highway construction and maintenance. This is borderline criminal. Paying for Pet Projects at the Pump | NCPA
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another example
Labor is part of the cost of construction. My goodness do you think people can work for free? Government contracts are not going to slave wages paid for by construction companies that hire illegals. The prevailing wage rates are set by the jurisdiction. If you want the contract, you will comply.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Toyman at Jewel Lake
If we actually spent the entire gas tax on highways, there would be no, or very little, "shortfall".
Quit wasting fuel tax on non-highway projects. Make mass transit riders pay their own way, and have bicyclists pay for their own toys. Take it further and eliminate the requirement for Davis-Bacon prevailing wage provisions that has someone holding a stop sign making $30 an hour and require that any tax money only go to the lowest bidder with a proven record, with no requirement to support union or minority owned contractors. Once the theft of gas tax funds is addressed, and public projects are actually managed in an efficient manner, I'm willing to consider more in fuel tax.
Highways are only one form of infrastrcture.
Mass transit picks up roughly the same amount of fare as driving does, depending on the agency. Hell, even Amtrak picks up almost 90% of its own tab.
Plus, people who use public transportation usually cannot afford to buy a car. If they can't afford public transportation to get to work, that is just more people on welfare!
Once again, conservative ideology just reeks of stink.
Our infrastructure is crumbling, it's the fuel tax that pays for that infrastructure and as mentioned it hasn't been increased since the 90's. I'll support an increase as long as 100% of it is going to fix roads and bridges and they address taxing vehicles like electric cars that are paying nothing.
Fixes and repairs to infrastructure are needed, a tax increase is not desperately needed. Reigning in government spending is desperately needed. Eliminating government waste is desperately needed. Getting rid of politicians who outright lie about how tax dollars will be spent is desperately needed.
Throwing more money at government is not a reasonable or sustainable solution.
Its just a proposal with the need for more highway funds. I think it should be addressed more at state level and local level really. The stimulus was just a example of spin as we saw what it was sold as and what really happened to the money.
Fixes and repairs to infrastructure are needed, a tax increase is not desperately needed. Reigning in government spending is desperately needed. Eliminating government waste is desperately needed. Getting rid of politicians who outright lie about how tax dollars will be spent is desperately needed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Haakon
Throwing more money at government is not a reasonable or sustainable solution.
Why? Because you say so?
You obviously have no idea what you are talking about. Since "waste" is such a big deal, how about you quantify how much "waste" is in government? How about you cite why a tax increase isn't desperately needed? Infrastructure funds are half of what they were 20 years ago when adjusted for inflation. There comes a point where the waste argument just smells of pure hogwash. The trust fund is damn near starving. Our roads are disgraceful.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by thecoalman
Our infrastructure is crumbling, it's the fuel tax that pays for that infrastructure and as mentioned it hasn't been increased since the 90's. I'll support an increase as long as 100% of it is going to fix roads and bridges and they address taxing vehicles like electric cars that are paying nothing.
if this is so then they should use the gas tax to fix things... not put it into general funds and other crap.
Raising the petrol tax though badly needed will not solve the infrastructure funding problem per se.
Not only are Americans driving less miles but the vehicles used are more fuel efficient which all translates into decreasing amounts collected per gallon. Then there is the fact some vehicles do not use petrol at all such as electric or natural gas. Though small in over all numbers such vehicles are predicted to grow and even if the amount remains small they still use the same infrastructure as everyone else.
What is going to be needed is some sort of mileage tax, tolls, VAT or other means of raising revenue besides purely a petrol tax.
One of the best ways to fund major projects would be to harness the power of public/private partnership via infrastructure bank. Though the idea has been tossed around for decades now don't expect it to be created anytime soon. Politicians on both sides of the aisle are loathe to give up the power and influence that comes from dolling out infrastructure funds, and thus aren't likely to ceded power in whole or part to a quasi government or worse private agency.
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