That didn't take long. Welcome to the age of the internet. Central District Transportation Commissioner Dick Hall and other discuss raising gas taxes to pay for roads and some Republican Senators immediately take to the Facebook pages.
Senator Will Longwitz:
Many of you have asked me about the recently proposed $700 million tax increase. I and many of my fellow Senators are against it. This is clearly another attempt to increase government spending on the backs of Mississippi taxpayers and families. We should be making government more efficient, not killing jobs by raising gas prices and taxes on Mississippi families.
Senator Chris McDaniel:
We must not increase the gas tax!
We must find efficient ways to maintain our state infrastructure without upsetting commerce with calls for more taxes and heavy-handed government controls. Our spending priorities are clearly in question when we are increasing bond indebtedness on pet projects such as museums while our infrastructure is allegedly failing. Mississippians are spending more on basic needs than ever. They don’t need their state government making that worse.
More information on Senator McDaniel's Facebook page.
32 comments:
The gasoline tax was raised to $.184 in 1987. 1987.
It needs to be raised to be in line with other states. We are the CHEAPEST.
These 2 are wrong about roads. Building and maintaining roads is one things government is suppose to do. Now what they are saying is about right for most government spending and programs but not for roads.Now making good decisons as to where to build the roads that is another story also. Roads are build to support trips and traffic not build it and they will come.
Instead of raising gas taxes, why don't they just stop working on dumbass budget wasters (guaranteed to up their budget the next cycle) like the random "dig up one side of the road, fill it in and dig up the other side of the road."
Thats the downside of these "no tax increase" pledges. while I generally applaud them, there is NO better way to fund road maintenance than to tax the people using the roads. The more you drive, the more you tear up roads, the more you pay. simple. Inflation has increased maintenance costs, but the gas tax is flat. Its a no brainer, increase the gas tax or have crappy roads.
The saddest part is we have so many empty suits leading the state GOP that all they know how to do is parrot the party line and talk about guns. Our roads are horrible and they are like deer in the headlights.
I would not mind the tax increase went for roads and bridges in need of repair instead of more highways.
I spend more on realignment and new tires than I would a year for this increase.
Mississippi's roads are in poor shape. Our highways are fine for the time being.
The Republican knee-jerk reaction of "no new taxes", regardless of the need or efficacy, is just plain stupid. It appeals to people who won't or can't think for themselves, which I suppose is the Republican constituency.
2:55 you are exactly right. That is why we have lost and will continue to lose on a national level.
Gee, Bill, why don't you tell us what you really think about Republicans? Prick.
Hey Bill,
Why don't you run next election on that platform and see how far that gets you?
That is what I thought. SHHHHHH little boy.
Why not let Mary and Buster pay for it. They're about the only one's who have benefited from the increased spending in Brother Dick's District.
@12:30 pm, well said
Can I have $10?
What happened to the $10 I gave you yesterday?
Well, um, uh, well, I, uh.......
Simmons' proposal has already become a Christmas Tree of non-road spending. But that is the kind of stupid PR to be expected from Donkeycrats.
About as stupid as Moak and Presley promoting healthy school lunches and weight loss.
Thank you to those who stand up against this! Those who vote for it will never be re-elected! We are taxed to death as it is.
What better way to pay for road maintenance than to have gas taxes earmarked exclusively for road maintenance. If more costs were paid for by specific taxes and not out of the general fund, we would not be at the mercy of the idiot legislature constantly robbing from peter to pay off paul. As much as I hate taxes, this is the proper way to apportion the tax burden....those who use pay. Nothing more conservative than that.
How about taking away all the cars that state government workers take home as perks. Only law enforcement officers and fire officers on call should have take-home cars. Almost every state department has cars now, many of them going home at night. Are these employees getting 1099s for these perks? Anyone care?
I travel for a living and I'm all for raising the gas tax, even though it would effect me the most. But that's as it should be. Because I use the roads more that the average commuter.
What these people don't take into consideration, is that the cars and trucks are much more fuel efficient than ten years ago. Fuel taxes compared to the cost of a gallon of gas are miniscule, yet the cost of road and bridge repair has tripled since 1987.
I want to hear what these clowns have to say the first time a bridge collapses and there are people killed. And, but the way, I'm a Republican.
4:48 PM: Do you support paying increased fuel taxes for pay for non-road related spending?
Because that is what is being proposed.
The spending pigs all want to be fed and they don't plan on just letting the road pigs have a meal.
Comrade Barack had a complete separate plan haul his pooch up to Martha's Vineyard.
Please, Dees or one of you other idiots. How about you Anderson Wankerson?
Tell us that you are fully supportive of spending money to fly a dog to its "vacation" locale?
What better way to pay for road maintenance than to have gas taxes earmarked exclusively for road maintenance.
But that isn't happening with Simmons' plan. Are you even paying f'ing attention?
Simmons has become quite adept at figuring out how to raise taxes on white folks and corporations but is a novice at tax diversion.
Why did Tate Reeves appoint this guy Transportation Chairman? What is wrong with him?? Surely this is a goring offense?? why hasn't Tate called him out
5:18 pm Reading comprehension problems?
No one has said they would support a tax UNLESS it was to go to existing road and bridge repair.
5:16 pm Can you possibly stay on topic? And, FYI Dick Hall is a Republican.
Indeed, all of you who think this is awful WILL vote for him again. You will be convinced , yet again, that the alternative is worse and Republicans who spend excessively and vote for hidden tax increases didn't really mean it! A farm subsidy isn't REALLY about your tax dollars WINK WINK
This is why we cannot have nice things.
We are stupid enough to elect TEA Party candidates that want to see government fail.
They don't want to govern efficiently. They want to see government fail.
Hey 10:20.
Very simple. He's a black'nd tater tot.
hey 5:18, watch your potty mouth. I'm just saying (re-saying) there is no better way to allocate the cost of road maintenance than through a gas tax. I would not support mixing and mingling the taxes to pay for other projects, the less we put in the general fund the better. I'm agreeing with Dick in general terms, as soon as some shyster starts proposing a basket of new taxes for a basket of different goods, run for the hills.
Senator McDaniel bemoans the spending choices we are making. He talks of museums why infrastructure is falling apart. Well senator you are part of the problem.
What have you proposed to fix the infrastructure. Have you voted for these bond bills, that include museum's?
It is easy to talk against new revenues and government spending, but what are you doing to make things better.
Leadership is coming up with a plan that makes things better.
Leadership is coming up with a plan that makes things better.
"Better" for whom?
MDOT promises a smoother commute in your future. I hear this on Supertalk so it must be true.
Besides, Willie and the boys need smoover roads for legislative commuting while drawing per diem.
Looking at past tax projects, the money has always been collected and properly used exactly where it was suppose to be used....... [cough, sputter, cough]
Better for everyone.
I will say the 1987 tax hike for the road plan was one of the few times a tax worked as intended and provided the actual benefit promised.
I also hate Christmas trees.
I wish all who are oppossing Option # 1 which is merely the first of hopefully many options would familiarize themselves with the entire proposal before deciding you are for or against it. You may also give the Task Force a recommendation on how you propose to repair your local roads and bridges. You may also tell your leaders to "do nothing" and watch your transportation system become "unsafe" and inadequate for effectitive "economic development".
Senator Willie Simmons
Post a Comment