CA Gasoline Tax Rising July 1 - Highest Gas Taxes In Nation (sales, 2013)

[USDefault]

Ten percent rise in the CA gas tax coming next week. California tax rises from 36 cents to 39.5 cents per gallon of gasoline. Overall, California = highest gas taxes in the country, at a whopping 72 cents per gallon in state and federal taxes. Legalized theft from families, ordinary workers and the middle class.

Want to know why the tax is being raised? Lower gas sales. Meaning if you conserve or drive a hybrid, tax officials don't care, they simply are going to raise gas taxes to guarantee a certain level of your money is taken from your wallet, and put in theirs. The state calls this "revenue neutral." It's not neutral, however, if you're the one paying, now is it? Love the word games of the taxing authorities, where 1 + 1 = 3. "Neutral" my ass.

Come Monday, Californians will pay 72 cents in federal and state taxes on a gallon of gas, the highest in the nation. Across the country, the average tax on a gallon of gas is 49 cents. New York is second with 68.9 cents, while Alaska is lowest at 26.4 cents, the American Petroleum Institute reports.

A person who drives 15,000 miles a year at 20 miles per gallon would pay an extra $26.25 per year in gas taxes. That's on top of the $479 per year in state, federal and sales taxes. . . .

An excise tax is a placed on an individual product purchase, and not based on its price. The problem is that people are driving less, as gas prices increase and hybrid cars become more common. The state Legislature required the new system to be revenue neutral, meaning it would generate the same amount of tax revenue as it would have under the previous system.

Tax on gas rises 10 percent Monday Page 1 of 2 | UTSanDiego.com

[zdg]

You're comparing an additional $2.19 a month in gas tax to legalized theft?

[USDefault]

Originally Posted by zdg

You're comparing an additional $2.19 a month in gas tax to legalized theft?

The fact that even if all taxpayers reduce gas consumption, the state will continue to raise gas tax rates, ad infinitum, ad nauseam, regardless of price or underlying market forces? Absolutely it is. Pay, pay, and pay some more, regardless of use -- which is exactly what this tax is.

Translation: use less gas, pay even more in taxes. It's disgusting. Supply versus demand basterdized so the state can fleece taxpayers.

Worse, this ripples through all facets of the economy (trucking, shipping, deliveries, food, etc.). This is $2.19 per month, times 38 million residents, times 12, an enormous number.

[zdg]

Where will that money go? I mean, what will the government use that money for?

[bigdumbgod]

OK blustering, angry, outraged citizen. Just what are you going to do about it?


Electric, and alternative fuels are sounding ever more attractive, yes?

[JGC97]

I wish they'd make up their mind. First they want us to drive less, reduce consumption and then when we do it, they start whining about the revenue shortfall and raise the tax.

[USDefault]

^ this.

[ryanst530]

You're comparing an additional $2.19 a month in gas tax to legalized theft?

It's the principle of the matter, not the actual amount.

The question is: When will these creeping tax increases that we're seeing end? - Not: Is $2.19 a month extra really going to make that big of a difference in my life? (because obviously it wont for most people)

You have to look beyond what's right in front of you...

[zdg]

Originally Posted by ryanst530

The state's tax strategy is, in a sense, the same as putting a lobster in a pot of cold water and heating it up slowly until it dies - in this case: incremental, small tax increases, eventually equating to quite a large sum of money.

Not a rhetorical question: what is your alternative solution?

The question is: When will these creeping tax increases that we're seeing end? - Not: Is $2.19 a month extra really going to make that big of a difference in my life? You have to look beyond what's right in front of you...

Why is that the question? Why should creeping tax increases end?

What exactly is beyond what's right in front of me?

[JGC97]

Great analogy and the answer to the question is, they won't. This month; gas tax. Next month? Who knows.