Thursday, September 22, 2005
Foolishness
I think this story once again shows the lack of wisdom by our Rep. Hilly boy. Only 15 lawmakers signed on to a letter asking Bredesen to suspend the gas tax for 30 days. Of course, all they were doing was copying Georgia. David Hawk was the only other local lawmaker who signed on. Here are some quotes from the story that underline Hilly boy's foolishness:
[O]ther Republicans warned such a move would paralyze road construction in the state's fastest-growing communities...even as prices at the pump are poised to fall.
State Senator Mark Norris, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, told the Chattanooga Times Free Press, the move "would not be appropriate." Citing statewide infrastructure needs, Norris said, "You'd be robbing Peter to pay Paul, and that would not be good at this time."
According to the Tennessee Department of Transportation, the state's 21.4-cent gas tax generates about $397 million a year for road and highway projects-or about half of TDOT's total revenue. Without those funds, transportation officials said, projects across the state would grind to a halt. Suspending the gas tax also would put a pinch on cities and counties, which collect more than $245 million a year.
Oddly, Republicans signing on to the gas tax letter failed to mention that gas prices - prior to Hurricane Katrina - had soared 44% in a year under the Bush Administration's faltering economic policies.
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REPUBLICANS SPLIT ON GAS TAX
http://www.tndp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=2
A handful of House Republican lawmakers called for reducing Tennessee's gas tax in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, while other Republicans warned such a move would paralyze road construction in the state’s fastest-growing communities.
Fifteen legislators (including Rep. Matthew Hill) called for an executive order temporarily suspending the tax while Republican State Senator Mark Norris, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said the move “would not be appropriate.”
Citing statewide infrastructure needs, Norris said, “You’d be robbing Peter to pay Paul, and that would not be good at this time.”Suspending the gas tax also would put a pinch on cities and counties, which collect more than $245 million a year to fund local road projects.]
The Tennessee County Highway Officials Association said the move would shut down as many as 45 county highway departments and result in up to 1,500 layoffs statewide.
The House Republicans remained undeterred and appeared willing to cut funding in their counties, which have seen more than $1 billion in gas tax-funded road improvements since 2003.
oh dear...it appears that Rep. Matthew Hill is wanting the town and county governments to raise my property taxes (again!) to makeup for this Hill inspired gas tax cuts simply to maintain and repair our existing roads in Washington County!!!
http://www.tndp.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=36&Itemid=2
A handful of House Republican lawmakers called for reducing Tennessee's gas tax in the wake of Hurricane Katrina, while other Republicans warned such a move would paralyze road construction in the state’s fastest-growing communities.
Fifteen legislators (including Rep. Matthew Hill) called for an executive order temporarily suspending the tax while Republican State Senator Mark Norris, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said the move “would not be appropriate.”
Citing statewide infrastructure needs, Norris said, “You’d be robbing Peter to pay Paul, and that would not be good at this time.”Suspending the gas tax also would put a pinch on cities and counties, which collect more than $245 million a year to fund local road projects.]
The Tennessee County Highway Officials Association said the move would shut down as many as 45 county highway departments and result in up to 1,500 layoffs statewide.
The House Republicans remained undeterred and appeared willing to cut funding in their counties, which have seen more than $1 billion in gas tax-funded road improvements since 2003.
oh dear...it appears that Rep. Matthew Hill is wanting the town and county governments to raise my property taxes (again!) to makeup for this Hill inspired gas tax cuts simply to maintain and repair our existing roads in Washington County!!!
# posted by 
: 12:39 PM
: 12:39 PM
I thought the legislators wanted to get the cash from the surplus collections in the state...was I misinformed?
# posted by : 1:58 PM
: 1:58 PM
I don't think they said that they $ should come from property taxes, but who would be surprised if the counties started saying the gas tax holiday caused them to raise property taxes.
I am not sure how the holiday was supposed to be subsidised.
I am not sure how the holiday was supposed to be subsidised.
# posted by : 4:13 PM
: 4:13 PM
This article discusses the letter:
In their letter to Bredesen, the legislators wrote: “There are several reserve funds, which can be used to make up for this temporary tax loss. Further, the cessation of gas tax collection will not terminate the functionality of any government entity.”
Republicans estimate a tax suspension for one month would cost the state about $51 million, The Tennessean reported. Most of that money goes for state and local roadwork.
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In their letter to Bredesen, the legislators wrote: “There are several reserve funds, which can be used to make up for this temporary tax loss. Further, the cessation of gas tax collection will not terminate the functionality of any government entity.”
Republicans estimate a tax suspension for one month would cost the state about $51 million, The Tennessean reported. Most of that money goes for state and local roadwork.
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