Massachusetts considering raising fuel tax
In the next 20 years, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts will need to fund a $15 to $19 million gap to maintain its transit system. Since there's no such a thing as a free lunch, Governor Deval Patrick (D) is currently suggesting an increase in the fuel tax of $0.19 per gallon to raise the money. This would means that the total tax paid on gasoline in the state will be $0.609 per gallon, while the tax on diesel would be $0.669 per gallon. End result: a rollback on a proposed Massachusetts Turnpike toll increase, no fare increase on the Boston public transit system (among other benefits) and making Massachusetts the state with one with the highest gasoline taxes in the U.S. and the fourth highest tax on diesel (right behind Hawaii, New York and Connecticut). Gov. Patrick has also proposed to move registration fees upward for large, gas-guzzling vehicles with the so-called "Hummer Tax." [Source: Green Car Congress]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
jharlan 2:26PM (2/22/2009)
You Mass people just look at the grin on that jackasses face as he contemplates picking you pockets. It's not going to be just Mass, it's the same in California. Raise taxes on the working class so the government doesn't have to learn to live within their income like the rest of us. Obama is spending to hopefully stimulate the economy, and these jackasses are raising taxes to suppress it.
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Paul 3:06PM (2/22/2009)
Make no mistake, Obama is stimulating the government. His next step is to follow through on his campaign promises and raise taxes on corporations and "wealthy" Americans (you know the ones who a: create jobs, b: invest capital to seed growth, and c: spend money) to try and cut the deficit. How is he reducing spending? Well, "primarily" by cutting back on spending in Iraq (though he may throw in a "program that doesn't work" here and there). Anyone who thinks that either the "stimulus" or these tax increases will somehow make the economy better is in need of institutionalization. Of course, our whole country is becoming one big institution, so they're in luck.
As with most Americans, I was sick of Bush and ready for a change. Truly, I started out with high hopes for the Obama administration. Less than one month in and those hopes have already been dashed beyond my wildest fears. Now I'm literally scared to death.
DELL 7:42PM (2/22/2009)
OH, HE 'S A JACKASS ALLRIGHT!! LET THE PEOPLE WHO DRIVE THE MASS PIKE PAY FOR THE MASS PIKE. LET THE PEOPLE WHO USE MBTA AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PAY FOR THERE USE!! PEOPLE WHO WORK IN BOSTON GET PAID TWICE THE MONEY THAT PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF BOSTON GET.THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE USE OF THERE OWN NEEDS AND NOT EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO GIVE THEM A CHEEP RIDE! THE GOVENER IS IRRESPONSIBLE, MAS TURNPIKE AUTHORITY IS IRRESPONSIBLE. BIG DIG WAS SUPPOSE TO COST 3 BILLION AND WOUND UP COSTING SOME 17 BILLION AND LEAKS AND CEILING FELL DOWN EVERYONE INVOLVED SHOULD BE SHOT
harlanx6 10:48PM (2/22/2009)
Were the contractors that won the big dig bid required to use union scale labor? If it wound up overrunning by 550% who took the blame for that?
Jay 3:26PM (2/22/2009)
Welcome to Taxachusetts.. Cheap gas was good while it lasted. Luckily I live close enough to New Hampshire to avoid this tax hike.
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ebow 6:06PM (2/22/2009)
Our tax burden has been around the middle of the pack since 1999 (according to the Tax Foundation), so the tired "Taxachusetts" hardly fits any more. Yeah, it sounds clever, and yes the higher tax tax will suck, but have you driven on our crappy roads lately? Gas taxes should probably be a percentage rather than a fixed price anyway.
jpm 3:30PM (2/22/2009)
Goddam gov't is so pathetic -- taxing everything to make up for their bloated existence. Look at the mayor of NYC, he wanted to tax internet downloads all of kinds to make up for his deficit. What a fucking moron.
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Nick 6:32PM (2/22/2009)
jpm, YOU are pathetic!
If you don't want taxes, then you'll like toll roads? Who do you think is going to pay for fixing the roads?
Let me know when you have an answer.
jpm 7:03PM (2/22/2009)
Lol. Wow. Did I say in my post NO taxes? No I didn't, go back and read it. Learn some comprehension skills while your at it. Taxes are obviously necessary for shared services. My point is the gov't takes too much and to make it worse our tax money is squandered. Or maybe you feel it's just. Do you think 30% of your paycheck to the gov't is fair? Please let me know.
JDred 7:55AM (2/23/2009)
The biggest problem we have with Politicians that have been increasing taxes at a whim is that they can always count on people like Nick that have the "Thank You sir! Can I have another?" attitude when it comes to tax increases.
The answer to your question Nick is the obvious. How about they stop shoveling millions into a failing mass transit and take that money and start repairing roads?
And Paul, hate to say "I told you so" but you got what you wanted and you're going to have to learn to deal with it. You bought into the "Hope and Change" theme from a slick salesman and now we're all going to suffer for it. Don't expect to get much sympathy for a long time and use your head in the next election!
Killroy 10:41PM (2/22/2009)
Gas should not be so cheap. Tax away and maybe we would not waste so much money on fuel. If you have a problem, boycott gas, don't drive a pig, don't drive so much, ride a bike and live close to work.
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LM 9:51AM (2/23/2009)
Amen! The ones who are complaining are just those who are adding 20 gallons of gas to their hogs every week. Suck it up! As for the "hummer" tax, it's about time. Those beasts eat pavement for lunch then my car has to bottom out on their potholes!
As far as "taxachuetts", it's simply not true. Our taxes aren't lowest, but they're certainly not the highest. Let's see: 5% sales tax on non-essentials, 5% income tax (with lots of deductions, including rent!), and right now gas costs actually are LOWER than the national average. Usually about 8 cents cheaper. So, 19 cents more just puts us slightly over the national average.
Kudos to Patrick for trying to raise revenue instead of cutting more services - laying off teachers, fire fighters, police, etc, and shuttering more MBTA services. And to the fool above - if they cut the T, where do you think people will go? On the roads! So yes, road users should subsidize the more efficient means of transportation simply because it helps to reduce the need for MORE roads and reduces congestion for YOUR stupid ass.
G 10:19AM (2/23/2009)
Nobody can complain about tax on gas until you've lived in the UK! the price of our fuel is 70% tax, currently its roughly $6 a gallon for petrol, $6.70 for Diesel
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Max 12:33PM (2/23/2009)
JDred, yeah you use your head at the next election, let me laugh. Republicans have, over 8 years, thrown $10bn a month at a useless Iraq war for WMDs which didn't exist, created the biggest budget deficit in the history of America while not creating a single job. Wasteful spending on the military, that's what I call 'wasteful use of taxpayer money'.
Yeah...what a good party to vote for eh? It's morons like you, FoxNews watching fools who drag this country down.
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JDred 8:34PM (2/23/2009)
Yes Max, at least I used mine the last election. Wasn't thrilled about the choice I had but it seems that it would've been a better option. Yes the deficit went up under President Bush. But not to the tune of 10% of the GDP that your "Chosen One" is going to jack it up to. But in case you didn't know, or have been incorrectly taught, it's not the Govt. that creates jobs, it's the private sector. The Govt. can only make policy that encourages economic growth within the private sector.
But once again, when the Democrats are back in charge the only solution they have is to tax, tax, tax and tax some more! And of course, they can always count on sheep like you who think being overtaxed is "Patriotic". Please tell me, if Obama's ideas are so sound, why does the Stock Market drop every time he opens his mouth?
stclair5211 2:38PM (2/23/2009)
That's so cute! "Considering." How about they WILL.
Mass is so liberal the only solutions they know are raise taxes!
I will "consider" eating food when I get hungry. LOL
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