[Fuele]

Originally Posted by troutman85

Why is the conversation in ct always that we have to raise revenue and there is no other option? The recent 2 year budget was over 40 billion. I agree that transportation is important so let’s try cutting 2% from each agency and diverting it to the transportation fund. The citizens are not a piggy bank and spending needs to be prioritized. It sounds great saying we are gonna tax out of staters but you are also taxing residents trying to get to work. We pay enough taxes, they need to make a honest attempt at prioritizing spending before asking for more.

Forget about it. Have you talked to any Democrats recently ? Don't waste your time. They are too busy with Social Justice and keeping illegals from being picked up by ICE to care about the taxpayers. Tolls? Just another way to reach into your pocket.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by troutman85

Why is the conversation in ct always that we have to raise revenue and there is no other option? The recent 2 year budget was over 40 billion. I agree that transportation is important so let’s try cutting 2% from each agency and diverting it to the transportation fund. The citizens are not a piggy bank and spending needs to be prioritized. It sounds great saying we are gonna tax out of staters but you are also taxing residents trying to get to work. We pay enough taxes, they need to make a honest attempt at prioritizing spending before asking for more.

The gas tax has been fixed for more than 20 years. Inflation has eaten away at what that tax will buy today. Studies show that revenue from the gas tax has remained flat and will likely go down over the next 20 years as drivers switch to more fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles.

No one can argue that our roads do not need a lot of work. The state will barely be able to maintain our roads in their current condition, let alone improve them to relieve congestion that has grown over the years. It will take billions to do that over the next 30 years. Malloy's Lets Go CT program estimates it to be $100 billion. The Republican's Prioritize Progress is proposing $69 billion, most of which would be borrowed.

For decades out-of-state drivers have been using our highways for free while we have had to pay tolls in their states. Connecticut is the only state on the east coast that does not have tolls. More and more states are considering tolls as a way to fund highways rather than the diminishing revenue from the gas tax.

Whether we like it or not, the time has come to make a very difficult decision. It appears we have few choices:

• We can do nothing and watch our roads continue to deteriorate and congestion increase.
• We can prioritize borrowing the money at the expense of other projects like schools, parks and public buildings.
• We can raise the gas tax and have Connecticut drivers pay the bulk of the cost to improve out roads.
• We can implement tolls and finally have out-of-state drivers pay their fair share of the cost to build and maintain our highways

It is your choice which of these options is best. I choose tolls. Jay

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Fuele

Forget about it. Have you talked to any Democrats recently ? Don't waste your time. They are too busy with Social Justice and keeping illegals from being picked up by ICE to care about the taxpayers. Tolls? Just another way to reach into your pocket.

So you think we should ignore the revenue problem we have? How does that solve anything? Jay

[Fuele]

Originally Posted by JayCT

So you think we should ignore the revenue problem we have? How does that solve anything? Jay

Yep, i'm ignoring it, just like they are. Most of the recent issues they are addressing aren't problems , they actually create more and more by their own hand. I guess you don't get the DNC Newsletter .

[troutman85]

Originally Posted by JayCT

The gas tax has been fixed for more than 20 years. Inflation has eaten away at what that tax will buy today. Studies show that revenue from the gas tax has remained flat and will likely go down over the next 20 years as drivers switch to more fuel efficient and alternative fuel vehicles.

No one can argue that our roads do not need a lot of work. The state will barely be able to maintain our roads in their current condition, let alone improve them to relieve congestion that has grown over the years. It will take billions to do that over the next 30 years. Malloy's Lets Go CT program estimates it to be $100 billion. The Republican's Prioritize Progress is proposing $69 billion, most of which would be borrowed.

For decades out-of-state drivers have been using our highways for free while we have had to pay tolls in their states. Connecticut is the only state on the east coast that does not have tolls. More and more states are considering tolls as a way to fund highways rather than the diminishing revenue from the gas tax.

Whether we like it or not, the time has come to make a very difficult decision. It appears we have few choices:

• We can do nothing and watch our roads continue to deteriorate and congestion increase.
• We can prioritize borrowing the money at the expense of other projects like schools, parks and public buildings.
• We can raise the gas tax and have Connecticut drivers pay the bulk of the cost to improve out roads.
• We can implement tolls and finally have out-of-state drivers pay their fair share of the cost to build and maintain our highways

It is your choice which of these options is best. I choose tolls. Jay

Why are you not considering the option I presented above: ask state agencies to take 2% cut and divert it to the transportation fund? It’s a $40 billion budget, there’s 800 million right there with limited impact on residents and agencies. Why is it ok to ask residents to give up money but not the state government?

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by Fuele

Yep, i'm ignoring it, just like they are. Most of the recent issues they are addressing aren't problems , they actually create more and more by their own hand. I guess you don't get the DNC Newsletter .

I'm a Republican so no, I don't get the DNC Newsletter. Does it address transportation funding?.

The article below explains the problem and why we and other states need to address it. Jay

https://ctmirror.org/2019/03/19/clim...icuts-gas-tax/

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by troutman85

Why are you not considering the option I presented above: ask state agencies to take 2% cut and divert it to the transportation fund? It’s a $40 billion budget, there’s 800 million right there with limited impact on residents and agencies. Why is it ok to ask residents to give up money but not the state government?

Because that does not solve the problem. Even Republican Senate leader Len Fasano acknowledges that the budget is pretty lean today so departments have little room to make more cuts without significantly affecting services. Jay

[troutman85]

Originally Posted by JayCT

Because that does not solve the problem. Even Republican Senate leader Len Fasano acknowledges that the budget is pretty lean today so departments have little room to make more cuts without significantly affecting services. Jay

Cut some services then, prioritize spending.

[Fuele]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I'm a Republican so no, I don't get the DNC Newsletter. Does it address transportation funding?.

The article below explains the problem and why we and other states need to address it. Jay

https://ctmirror.org/2019/03/19/clim...icuts-gas-tax/

Here's ' the local version.

Missing are the new gimmicks to pull more taxes out of the working class, but there sure is quite a bit regarding Social Justice. Also missing are all the plans they have for illegals. Like the just signed Law that keeps them out and about even if they are arrested by local law enforcement.


Democratic Values Agenda | Connecticut House Democrats

Transportation Funding ? Propaganda. Invest in the economy ? By adding a new tax like Tolls? That's all it is. A new tax on the working class. Forget about out of state drivers. Rubber tires do not have much of an impact on the roads. Roads will rot and crumble because of the climate, weather and age, not so much by driving on them.


From the above link.
Our Roads, Bridges, Rail and Buses

When Connecticut invests in our roads, bridges, rail and buses, it is investing in the economy and job growth.

Connecticut is in an economic competition against New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts and in order to win we need a modern, reliable and safe transportation system. Our transportation infrastructure has undergone great improvements recently, but there is more work to be done. We need to not only rebuild what we have but envision transportation for the next generation that focuses on transit-oriented development to attract millennials to our cities.

Rebuilding our Infrastructure

We need to rebuild our transportation network so people can get to work and businesses can grow. In order to meet our transportation infrastructure needs and have out-of-state drivers help pay for our roads, the House and Senate leaders have committed to holding a vote to implement an electronic tolling system.

[1000fc]

Originally Posted by Fuele

Yep, i'm ignoring it, just like they are. Most of the recent issues they are addressing aren't problems , they actually create more and more by their own hand. I guess you don't get the DNC Newsletter .

Why would the DNC, (Democratic NATIONAL committee) address specific states revenue issues?

You mention that the DNC has no plan, but yet didn't show what the RNC plan is. How come?