The party of tax em more

[Saltie]

OLYMPIA — House Democrats rolled out a nearly $10 billion transportation package Wednesday that would boost taxes on gasoline, increase car tabs and even charge a bicycle fee to raise money.

The proposal would increase the state gas tax by 10 cents over five years, eventually reaching a total of 47.5 cents per gallon. Washington currently has the nation’s ninth-highest gas tax.

In addition, it would create a car-tab tax equal to 0.7 percent of a vehicle’s value — $140 for a $20,000 car.

There’s even a $25 sales fee on bicycles worth $500 or more that would raise  $1 million over 10 years, a nod to motorists who complain that bicyclists don’t pay their fair share.

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020393904_transpopackagexml...

[P.A.]

So mr. Salt what you suggest they do? Let their roads fall apart? Privatize the roads and make them all toll roads? Only allow a certain number of cars on the road? Maybe a lottery to see who can use the roads.

[redhand]

Privatize the roads. If a private company can't make money off it, what good is it?

[LoveLife&Laughter]

f you slow to a crawl on I-5 over the next few days – which is known to happen – study the concrete below you and look for the significant cracks. You won’t have to look very hard. A safe, reliable, and efficient transportation system is a crucial foundation for a vibrant economy and a competitive business climate.

Each year, the East King County Chambers of Commerce Legislative Coalition brings together 10 chambers of commerce representing the Eastside business community. The Coalition represents wineries in Woodinville, restaurants in Issaquah, a global business icon in Redmond, Microsoft, and a variety of companies and nonprofits in between.

As the voice of Eastside employers, the coalition believes the Legislature must develop and pass a comprehensive transportation funding package that maintains and preserves our existing system and completes funding of critical system-wide improvements.

Washington’s economy continues to face serious challenges but many hopeful signs of economic improvement are all around us. The coalition believes it is up to the Legislature to double-down on the hopeful signs of economic improvement and pass a comprehensive transportation package. Investments in Washington’s economic future must be made now.

So why don't all the big companies anti-up and pay for their infrastructure instead of having the tax-payer suport ...

"The Business They Built"

[exedir]

The problem with a number of transportation plans(funded or unfunded)is that they are writ fantasy in that many include flying cars and trains with bullets...oh, wait....that is bullet trains....serious optic problem in that....

So, beyond NIMBY and other regulatory issues such as snails, clams and little fish, what happens, is not much, that actually address transportation problems of today....repair and maintenance...or tomorrow, whether the Jetsons, drive, fly or take high speed rail.  

And as to taxes, isn't user fees that usually come up with the funding....oh, wait...hasn't the court decided that mandatory , voluntary fees are taxes...nevermind....  

[Dennis Barsten]

"Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee did not say Wednesday whether he supported the specifics of the package. Rather, he said in a statement, “We can’t afford to not take action and this is a job I expect the Legislature to accomplish. I’ll be working with legislators on both sides of the aisle to craft a package that they can send to my desk for approval.”"

Panic in the State of Washington...???lol

[LoveLife&Laughter]

Panic, or the usual bitch'n from you know who...

[Saltie]

The first place I would start would be cutting government waste. There are other things that can be done rather than again and again raise taxes.

[Saltie]

Look at what Scott Walker is doing. He had his state house occupied by the nay sayers. he withstood a recall election move by the unions. Now he is lowering taxes. Imagine that.

[LoveLife&Laughter]

What a guy; what could go wrong?

[ProblemAgain]

once again it plays well for the silly and the stupid.....the ones who have no long-term sight for the social and economic arena. why not just say ' we want to pour public money into the hands of corporations running private schools to the detriment of the children attending public schools',  'we want to lower taxes IN SPITE of shortfalls cause it makes some people feel lots better when they aren't paying their way in spite of their bleatings about individual responsibility' and 'we'll tell you lots of hooey about the federal government but we have our hand out just like every other recipient of federal aid'

[Lifesighs]

I want flying cars and high speed trains, Please.