Proposed new gas tax

[Uncle Matt]

I just saw that our fine Gov. Patrick is thinking about proposing a new .27/gallon gas tax on fuel sold in the commonwealth. According to the news that would make our gas prices the highest in the nation. I wasn't really listening because I kind of wished the devil would die a cruel and painful death. But is that on top of what we already pay?

Let's raise the flag on this one -

[striperman36]

Yes, Weld raised last time.
Rumor is CaddilacDeval is on the short list for HHS.
Let's hope he accepts.

[Raven]

he's all talk and no action

[striperman36]

they are also proposing a pay as you drive tax tied to a chip in your inspection sticker. That means big brother will be watching!!
And if you park by your UDL's for big mama's somebody could hack into find your spots!!!

I see you were at Pole 316 last night, nice fish btw, must what 50 lbs.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by striperman36

Yes, Weld raised last time.
Rumor is CaddilacDeval is on the short list for HHS.
Let's hope he accepts.

You really think that Tim Murray is going to be any better?

Whether he takes it or not--if he approves these two measures, he has one term wonder written all over him.

But hey--it's for the children, after all

"Together we can"---drown

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by Mike P

You really think that Tim Murray is going to be any better?

Whether he takes it or not--if he approves these two measures, he has one term wonder written all over him.

I didn't think there is any difference between any of them.
He'll probably apply to get his pension too when he leaves and hang out at the SweetPea Rancho.
He can already write the place off now that he hosted all the state flaks out there.

[Slipknot]

If that chip thing ever makes it, which it won't, there would be another Boston Tea Party. Maybe it's time anyway

[striperman36]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

If that chip thing ever makes it, which it won't, there would be another Boston Tea Party. Maybe it's time anyway

they'll know you were there. unless you took mass transit

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by Slipknot

If that chip thing ever makes it, which it won't, there would be another Boston Tea Party. Maybe it's time anyway

I wonder if they'll implant the chip in an R sticker?

[leo33]

funny their was no talk of a gas tax before the income tax vote.

[likwid]

Originally Posted by Uncle Matt

According to the news that would make our gas prices the highest in the nation.

MA state avg is $1.88
AK state avg is $2.51

Your news station has awesome math skills.

[EarnedStripes44]

They should tax gas into oblivion.

[buckman]

Originally Posted by EarnedStripes44

They should tax gas into oblivion.

They should tax stupidity

[BigFish]

The stupidty tax would erase the national debt in an afternoon.

[EarnedStripes44]

Originally Posted by buckman

They should tax stupidity

Your absolutely right.......it is a free good.

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by EarnedStripes44

Your absolutely right.......it is a free good.

Not entirely true. Many of us end up paying for the stupidity of others, over and over.

[Swimmer]

Find all the no-show jobs, zero out the line item that pays them.

Let Deval fire some/all of the 1900 people/friends he personally put on the payroll since he was elected.

Take all the state issued cars back from people that drive around in them.

Don't hire any firm thats performs so poorly it hires a lobbyist/consultant (ex state rep./senator) to get back in the good graces of state government.

And for all of us to actually not re-elect these nitwits every four years. And in that regard it is our fault that these idiots are the way they are. They become more and more emboldened every time they are elected, because they get up in the morning and when looking in the mirror they say, " hey it must be what they want they voted for me"!

Its always more, more, more. Gimee, gimee, gimee. Somebody has to start saying no more.

Beyond that, "let the revolution begin"!

[RIJIMMY]

Clogston, how about eliminating the pensions for state workers? Most public companies have. Right there , you'd save enough to fund the improvements.

[Clogston29]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

Clogston, how about eliminating the pensions for state workers? Most public companies have. Right there , you'd save enough to fund the improvements.

your right about that, there is money to be saved there. problem is, if you cut the pensions of state transportation officials, you'll have to raise their salaries or they will just leave and work in the private sector. at least for engineers, state employees are underpaid in terms of annual salary. their other "perks" like pension, more vacation time, more holidays, etc. make up for that fact. last time i was looking around, private jobs were more than 10% higher. they need to find a balance. I don't know where that balance is and what will end up costing the state more in the long run.

the unions for state workers are another issue. some laborers are making obscene salaries just because they have been at (name your state transportation agency) for X years.

as far as people who don't commute into boston not wanting to pay for it, i think you just need to take a more "global" (or statewide) view. the state infrastructure on the whole is %$%$%$%$ed, not just in boston. and the state manages almost all roads and bridges in the state. the money raised from a gas tax will essentially get distributed proportionally to where/who the money comes from because the state's infrastructure is distributed proportionally to the commuting population. essentially, its all one fund. for example, when all those piece of crap bridges in groveland and haverhill spanning the merrimack get repaired/replaced/inspected, the money will come from the statewide transportation budget, not a collection of people in those towns.

there are lots of areas of state government that need to be made more efficient (i'm certainly not arguing that). I just feel that if the state needs money to fund infrastructure repairs and can provide backup to the value that they want to tax, somebody needs to pay for those repairs, that a gas tax IMO is a fair way to distribute the burden.

[The Dad Fisherman]

I don't have a problem with paying the tax to improve the roads and bridges, the money does have to come from somewhere, but 1/2 that tax is going to the MBTA and other transit authorities.

"The plan calls for the state's Highway Division to receive $325 million, or 12.5 cents, of the added 27 cents-per-gallon gas tax. The MBTA would receive $286 million, or 11 cents, while the regional transit authorities would receive $39 million, or 1.5 cents."

If the "T" needs money....raise the fares for the people that use it.....and If I decide to use it I will pay for it.


and how about this tidbit on top of it......now you will be taxed on how much you travel....

"Tolls would be removed west of Route 128 by the end of next year. Tolls within Route 128, from Weston to Boston, would come down as the state shifts to a program of tracking -- and charging -- all drivers based on the miles they travel.

Trips would be measured by a chip installed in a vehicle inspection sticker as soon as 2014"

[sokinwet]

"how about eliminating the pensions for state workers? Most public companies have. Right there , you'd save enough to fund the improvements."

Yea Jimmy...and why don't we just eliminate your social security benefits too....been paying in for your whole career. I don't give a damn...

[fishbones]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

"how about eliminating the pensions for state workers? Most public companies have. Right there , you'd save enough to fund the improvements."

Yea Jimmy...and why don't we just eliminate your social security benefits too....been paying in for your whole career. I don't give a damn...

I'm not trying to be flip here, but do state employees pay into and receive social security benefits as well as their pensions?

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by fishbones

I'm not trying to be flip here, but do state employees pay into and receive social security benefits as well as their pensions?

No, we do not pay into SS. We can receive SS retirement benefits only if we paid into SS from earlier employment. We have our own pension fund, and we have to work 10 years to vest.

After 20 years the pension benefit is 80% of your last year's salary---fully taxable.

[RIJIMMY]

Originally Posted by sokinwet

"how about eliminating the pensions for state workers? Most public companies have. Right there , you'd save enough to fund the improvements."

Yea Jimmy...and why don't we just eliminate your social security benefits too....been paying in for your whole career. I don't give a damn...

who pays in to a pension? Its funded by the government, aka, taxpayers, aka me and you. The time needs to come soon where the public employees need to have the same benfits as those that pay their salaries. Many firms in the public sector are eliminating 401k match, and other perks to save money. The state may need to do that to, is that such a radical idea?
And by the way, my social security has been eliminated.

[Mike P]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

And by the way, my social security has been eliminated.

Really??--under what exemption from paying into it do you and/or your employer fall?

Wages not subject to tax

Workers are not required to pay Social Security taxes on wages from certain types of work:[102]

Wages received by certain state or local government workers participating in their employers' alternative retirement system.

Net annual earnings from self-employment of less than $400.

Wages received for service as an election worker, if less than $1,400 a year (in 2008).

Wages received for working as a household employee, if less than $1,600 per year (in 2008).

Wages received by college students working under Federal Work Study programs, graduate students receiving stipends while working as teaching assistants, research assistants, or on fellowships, and most postdoctoral researchers.

Earnings received for serving as a minister (or for similar religious service) if the person has a conscientious objection to public insurance because of personal religious considerations, but only for "qualified services" performed for a religious organization.
Other minor exceptions

[likwid]

Originally Posted by RIJIMMY

Many firms in the public sector are eliminating 401k match, and other perks to save money.

God bless working for a privately owned 100% matching company.

[BigFish]

Don't we already pay excise tax that goes to upkeep roads and such?? What a load of crap!

[Clogston29]

the T is 8 billion in dept. they can't raise fares and make that. they are the most poorly run and most in debt transportation department in the country. believe me, i'm not sticking up for them.

public transportation is a necessary evil IMO. I don't think that there is a self sustaining bus/rail authority in the country. all rely on tax subsidaries to be able to provide a service at a cost that keeps people using the service. they benefit the transporation system as a whole by reducing traffic demands (which would raise infrastructure costs) and are environmentally friendly.

rumors are that they are increasing their fares on the order of 40-50% this year anyway. and they already doubled parking rates. trust me, you'll see the results of that in increased traffic.

[RIJIMMY]

My paying into it has not been eliminated, but any benefit I'll receive from it is gone? I think its pretty well understood that no one under 40 will see a dime of their SS.

[tattoobob]

What we need is an "out of state workers tax" they should pay to work in our state. they should put toll booths at the boarder of every state.
If they are going to benefit by coming to our state for work then they need to pay.