Comments on: Should Republicans Fight Gas Tax Renewal?

By: Brad Warbiany

Brad Warbiany — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:48:39 +0000

Doc Hylento,

Your comment seems long on conjecture and short on substance. Can you explain exactly what would need to occur to have $6/gallon gas without punitive taxation?

Also, you do realize that a $0.50/gal increase coupled with an income tax cut in the gas tax is highly regressive, right? Not that I’m complaining, of course, because I think it’d be a net decrease in total taxes *for me*, but I have a feeling that low-income people who pay almost no federal income taxes today will be a little “annoyed” at the rise in their transportation budget…

Phil,

My preference would also be to cut the ethanol mandate & subsidy. Republicans won’t dare do it, though, because of their support in farm states. I left it out of the original post because it’s a political non-starter.

By: Phil

Phil — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 15:07:12 +0000

I agree with Brian that something should be made of the attempt to renew the gasoline tax. And I also agree that expanded drilling is a possibility as are the green energy subsidies (ethanol, e.g.). My preferred thing to cut would be the ethanol mandate and subsidy.
I do not understand Doctor Hylento’s claim of military spending subsidies. I suppose I simply have not studied the situation enough. Perhaps, Doctor, you could expand on that fact? I also would appreciate your explaining your phrase “at least people would see the reality of their addiction”.

By: Doctor Hylento

Doctor Hylento — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 01:06:50 +0000

I wish they’d slap an extra 50 cents to the gallon – and then lower something else, like income tax, to compensate.

We desperately need new infrastructure. And not just roads, we need better rail transportation or we’re really going to be a 3rd world country in a generation or so.

The price of gas is already artificially low – subsidized by military spending mostly. Give us fairly priced gas and it would be $6 a gallon overnight – but at least people would see the reality of their addiction!