Gas tax increase? I don't think so

[LyndaJensen]

Increasing the gas tax is a bad idea due to its sheer timing ($3 per gallon). Minnesota is the 11th highest taxed state in the nation. I know roads and bridges need to be cared for, but there is only so much money available and the families of Minnesota can only shoulder so much of the burden. We can't pay for it all at once. The legislature should do what every family in Minnesota has had to do in the past few years -- make do with what you have, prioritize, and determine wants vs needs. I'd love to simply bump up our family income by wishing it so, but that's not what happens in real life. In real life, you have to work overtime to get more money, or take on a second job. If Gov. Tim Pawlenty vetoes this proposal too, then good for him. He has his feet planted in firmly on the ground, and always has. For a link to the bill summary associate with this subject, go to this link:

http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/sessionweekly/art.asp?ls_year=85&issueid_=1&storyid=70&year_=2008

[conserveone]

Lynda is correct. These times are trying for all people. The foreclozures are sky high and we need to cut back in Government instead of expanding it. When Reagen cut taxes the Gov actually got more money in the coffers because of the expansion of the private sector. With Pawlenty vetoing the transportation bill what will they try to come up with that he will sign. Is bonding for transportation the way to go? What do you think?

[Evelyn]

I agree that the sheer timing of this is not good. Unfortunately the gas tax has not been raised since 1988 and we all know the price of virtually everything else has increased including the price tab on road repairs. I believe state government has been remiss not addressing this sooner.
Not only has the gas tax been left stagnate, vehicle registration fees were reduced in 2000 by our good friend Jesse. I think we have been enjoying paying less there.

[DrewEmmer]

The tax increase that passed is far more than anyone in the public realizes. By vetoing the bill on Friday and having the override vote on Monday, there weren't enough news cycles to bring the issue into the consciousness of the public.

We should change the saying to read "Of the special interests, by the special interests, and for the special interests". That's what we got yesterday. Bought and paid for by special interests. In fact, many of the road construction companies that will diorectly benefit from the transporation bill funded the override.

see more at http://www.wrightrepublican.blogspot.com

[polkarandy]

I was disappointed to see that the veto was overridden, but sorry to say not surpised. Each Republican that voted for the override needs to be taken out in the next endorsement round. I was very disappointed to see Steve Dille voted to override the veto. It will be a huge hardship for people in his district to absorb the added cost, on top of the other increases in costs that we are having to shoulder. This is a business killer. Who will be the first to go?

[dkovar]

There's supposed to be a "Tax Revolt Day" coming up in April so I hope this gets a lot of people's attention. Not only does the state tax us (property, income, sales, etc. etc.) but so do the federal government, county, schools, cities, and townships. We have way, way too much government in our lives already. If only government would commit to reducing itself by 1% each year -- doing away with unnecessary spending -- that would be realistic to accomplish.

[Kathy B.]

I don't agree. I would much rather live in a higher-taxed state like Minnesota than a lower-taxed state like many of the southern states. It's all about the quality of life. And I would rather actually pay TAXES than pay taxes that are actually disguised as FEES. The problem is that not all taxes are created equally. It makes no sense to me that the wealthy actually pay a smaller percentage of their income in taxes than do the lower and and middle classes. That's wrong. And what is it with these people who want to "tar and feather" the Republicans who voted to override the veto? I thought people were elected to public office to serve their constituents and vote their conscience, not necessarily and automatically to vote the party line. This whole anti-tax, anti-government mentality started with Reagan. Government isn't the problem; the people who run it is. Republicans run for office saying that government doesn't work and then get elected and prove it. Oliver Wendell Holmes once stated that “taxes are the price we pay for a civilized society.” In order for a civilized society to thrive, taxes at all levels of government must be sufficient to meet the legitimate needs of society. It has become both fashionable and common for Americans to complain about our high taxes. However, these anti-tax attitudes need to be seen in context. When looked at from an international perspective, we learn that the overall tax burden in the United States falls well below the average for the world’s developed countries/industrialized nations where, taken together, taxes account for almost 37% of the total economy compared to just under 30% in the U.S. While it is true that, when looked at from a national perspective, federal taxes as a percentage of the national economy are at their highest point since World War II, Federal taxes on most Americans have, in fact, fallen over the past two decades. It is only the wealthiest Americans, those who have seen their incomes go up the most, whose total taxes paid have been on the rise.

[brandong]

Well, fortunately I do not live in MN and have to deal with a gas tax increase. Where I live, the state taxes the oil companies enough $$ each year that we dont have to pay state income taxes and have enough surplus each year to pay each citizen of the state a dividend ($1500 in 2007). If you did not guess, I live in AK. Eventhough the state taxes the oil companies so much money, they are still recording record profits. Exxon had a net profit of $40.6 BILLION in 2007.
I dont think the government should feel they cannot make their decisions based on high gas prices. Why are the taxpayers of MN not sitting at the front door of the capital urging lawmakers to find a way to reduce the cost of gasoline...instead they are complaining of the miniscule tax increase which ultimately benefits them. The cash you pay at the pump for gas goes to a $40.6 BILLION a year company. Wouldnt you rather have that $$ go towards your roads??

[dcmom]

My issue with the gas tax increase is that most of the money will probably be spent in the metro area. I am not someone that drives in the metro area very often, so I get frustrated when the rural roads are in bad shape. They tear up roads in the metro that are in good shape just to change the route or make the road wider. Those "improvements" should wait until the road needs attention. Meanwhile roads in outstate Minnesota are repeatedly patched and not completely redone until the patching material is the main portion of the road.
Then there is the "Trend" issue where they have to change roads just to add items like round abouts. Hutchinson will be dealing with a new round about being constructed this summer. The town does not want it. But the Minnesota department of Transportation is jamming it down their throats. The engineers have decided that it is the best solution for a heavily used intersection. I will avoid that intersection once the round about goes in. That should help lessen the traffic in the area, because I probably won't be the only one avoiding it. Now I hear that the Bear Lake road is going to be worked on this summer. Way to cut off all the north access to Hutchinson the same year! Do they know how to plan schedules at the MNDOT?
I just hope that all this tax money is spent wisely!

[DCGrandma]

The high price of gas is bankrupting our country!! I said this when gasoline was $1.89 per gallon, and we can see that this statement is becoming true!! At $3.00 plus per gallon there were will be little or nothing left in our budgets for food, clothing and shelter. Obviously the shelter part is already being affected - just check out all of the foreclosure notices in our local newspapers. And, have you checked the price of food at the grocery store? The price of all the groceries is skyrocketing, and soon we will all be at the local food shelfs asking for help with the groceries!! And, the department stores such as JC Penney, Kohls, Macy's, etc. are all suffering - nobody can afford any new clothing any more (most of the clothing budget is going into the gas tanks or for heating fuels). I guess I am having a hard time understanding why if the price of gasoline is so high, then why are the oil companies enjoying such high, high profits. Obviously, they are paying less per gallon wholesale than what they are charging retail!! And they are enjoying those profits on the backs of all of us, and we allow this to continue to happen. Just where are our legislators - can't they somehow regulate these oil companies and how much they charge the customers for a gallon of gas? The government seems to stick their noses into our business for everything else, but this they seem to completely ignore. Even our "esteemed" president didn't know that the price of gasoline probably would hit $4.00 per gallon this spring. I believe his response when asked this question was, "I hadn't heard that!!" The government better be careful because if people get hungry enough there may be a revolution brewing before too long!!