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| Gas Tax to Fight Global Warming? |
| 2008-04-02 |
| Motorists in Los Angeles County could end up paying an extra 9 cents per gallon at the gas pump, or an additional $90 on their vehicle registration, under proposals aimed at getting them to help fight global warming. Voters would be able to decide whether to approve a "climate change mitigation and adaptation fee" under legislation being considered by state lawmakers and endorsed by the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The money would fund improvements to mass transit and programs to relieve traffic congestion at a time when transportation dollars from Washington and Sacramento are hard to come by. "At this point the people of the Los Angeles region have just had it when it comes to traffic and air quality," said Assemblyman Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles), author of the legislation, AB2558. But opponents already are rallying against the measure, saying it exploits public concern about climate change to tap taxpayers for the MTA's regular services: providing bus and rail lines. "This seems to be a cashing in on public sympathies on global warming to generate additional funding for programs that already exist," said Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. Coupal also objected to the measure's being called a "fee" -- which requires a simple majority for approval -- instead of a "tax," which requires two-thirds approval. Feuer's bill would allow the MTA board to ask voters either for a fee of up to 3% of the retail price of gas, or for a vehicle registration fee of up to $90 per year. The money would pay for programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #16 Ima sad for you. I can has no tractor jokes? ZA7428 (#11): I'm an Auburn Univ. alum. You can proceed with your tractor jokes. Be aware, though, that I'll turn them right around to be Univ. of Alabama jokes, tee-hee. |
| Posted by: BA 2008-04-02 21:41 |
| #15 "If they really cared about people having to pay high prices for gasoline" There's yer problem right there, Rambler.... |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2008-04-02 19:35 |
| #14 Politicians and people complain of the high profits that oil companies make - typically about 8 cents a gallon of gasoline, IIRC. (Of course, when they sell billions of gallons gasoline, they make lots of profits.) This is evil. Governments make 45 cents/gallon. If they really cared about people having to pay high prices for gasoline, they would reduce taxes. |
| Posted by: Rambler in California 2008-04-02 13:53 |
| #13 I watched a NOVA program last night on "global dimming"...no, it wasn't about liberal brain activity, but easily could have been. The premise was that airborne pollutants are causing a 10% or so reduction in the amount of sunlight reaching the earth. This creates a cooling effect, which, surprise, surprise, offsets the warming effect of greenhouse gasses. So you see, all climate effect is manmade. If we were to radically reduce airborne particulates, as has been done in North America and Europe with scrubbers, catalytic converters and oxygenates in fuel, then we would REALLY see the effects of global warming. So the temperature is not going up. It is man's fault that it is not going up. The temperature should be going up due to man's faults/actions, but it is not. Of course there was not mention of the widespread plant die-off due to the reduction in sunlight energy (which you would expect, no?)...I guess it didn't fit with their scare program. What rubbish! |
| Posted by: Remoteman 2008-04-02 13:28 |
| #12 If you accept that man produced levels of CO2 cause gerbil worming (which BTW I don't) then you can only re-internalise the CO2 by hypothecating any tax into CO2 sequestration etc. General taxation will be extorted from one group, but spent by another and in a less efficient way. This will tend to increase CO2 emissions. |
| Posted by: Bright Pebbles 2008-04-02 13:14 |
| #11 Ima sad for you. I can has no tractor jokes? |
| Posted by: Zebulon Angavick7428 2008-04-02 13:05 |
| #10 Zebulon, that's true. Unfortunately, my "Auburn" is in upper California, not lower Alabama. |
| Posted by: AuburnTom 2008-04-02 13:00 |
| #9 Kansas State Motor Fuel Tax (gasoline) 2000: $0.20/gallon - 2008: $0.25/gallon California State 2000: $0.18/galllon 2008: $0.455/gallon |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2008-04-02 11:09 |
| #8 Lower Alabama got purdy cheep gas thar Tom. |
| Posted by: Zebulon Angavick7428 2008-04-02 09:43 |
| #7 Meanwhile, independent truckers are calling for work stoppages if they don't get fuel cost reduction, including fuel tax reduction. |
| Posted by: Darrell 2008-04-02 09:12 |
| #6 The perrsons of Caliphornia deserve what they elect. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2008-04-02 08:15 |
| #5 How about a political scalp tax to fight government fleecing? |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2008-04-02 07:34 |
| #4 Bill Mexico for the illegals and they can stay. That ought to fix the problem. |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-04-02 03:07 |
| #3 The state is running a massive deficit. Arnold has sworn there will be no tax increase. "We can't reduce spending! Think of the children!" (I am and there are 50% illegals in some schools) This message has been approved and brought to you by your California State Donk legislature. |
| Posted by: USMC6743 2008-04-02 01:53 |
| #2 Thanks for the heads up. When I drive to L.A. this summer, I'll be sure to fill up just before I cross in to L.A. county. |
| Posted by: AuburnTom 2008-04-02 00:58 |
| #1 Shameless pr!cks. |
| Posted by: gorb 2008-04-02 00:49 |