I still laugh in amazement that this dill weed is running for governor;
By 2012, the state would gain an extra $54 million a year in revenue from the gas tax and excise tax on vehicle sales, while local governments would get an additional $30 million a year from the boost in registration fees.
The main opposition to the measure at Wednesday’s hearing came from Sen. Gordon Howie, R-Rapid City, a committee member who is running for governor.
“This $84 million will come straight out of the pockets of the taxpayers of this state,” Howie said.
Get outta here! You mean taxpayers pay taxes! Where did you hear such nonsense Gordo? At a tea party?
Sen. Mike Vehle, chairman of the committee, said the measure is needed to prevent South Dakota’s roads from deteriorating. He said the taxes and fees are really user fees imposed on those who use the roads.
“If you don’t want to use the roads, you don’t have to pay the fee,” Vehle said.
Exactly. While I think this is a horrible time to raise taxes I do think the gas tax, excise tax and registration fee increases are the best ways to pay for roads. Tax the people who are using the roads. Maybe Howie has a better idea? Maybe we should increase taxes on food, cut education spending in half and use that money on roads?
But wait… when Xcel raises their rates you go ape$hip ballistic, so why so calm when someone proposes we raise taxes.
To use your logic – clearly the state has managed just fine so they should have no need to raise taxes. I’m also quite sure they have raised these taxes at least a few times over the past 17 years.
Now is when I am supposed to cite several examples of state waste to show how this tax increase cannot possibly be justified…like the funds used to pay for a fleet of state aircraft, or the money used to hire 861 new state employees (a few of which have the last name of Rounds).
Sorry – but I had the sudden need to use this as an example of how unrealistic your logic was on that particular issue. I do actually agree that vehicle sales taxes, license plate fees, and fuel taxes should fund road maintenance… that just makes sense.
Do I have to pay a ‘road-use’ gas tax on gas I put in my lawn mower?
Funding a fixed cost with a variable stream of income not totally related to it is a bad idea. Roads should be fixed out of the general fund. Gas tax and registration fee revenue should go into the general fund.
God forgive me, but I agree with DL on this one, except I am not going to name-call Mr. Howie because usually his heart is in the right place.
There are few things that are more fair than user fees. You use it, you pay. Like the toll roads. They are a pain but if you drive on ’em, you should pay for ’em.
Costner- There is a difference between Excel energy and state government. Excel is for profit.
“I do actually agree that vehicle sales taxes, license plate fees, and fuel taxes should fund road maintenance… that just makes sense.”
I think they should just start with that and not the gas tax and see how much they could raise. I have often thought that the tax on cars should be the same as food and we should truly base registration fees on the weight of the vehicle not some weird formula.
The Dept of Transportation and its lackeys are using bogus numbers and bogus logic. The number of registered vehicles declined by 4 million in 2009 – largest percentage decline since WW2. Thus there is less demand for roads.
In SD lights cars cause almost no road damage but pay more per weight than do heavy-road damaging vehicles. The tax and spenders are all about subsidizing their favorite causes.
One problem with this tax-and-waste legislature is it won’t stop. Many plan to raise the gas tax, registration tax, municipal sales tax (so the rate will become 7%); several want to raise the state rate this year so the effective rate may become 8%; many others want to raise the state sales tax in 2011 – so the sales tax rate may well become 9%. Incremental tax and waste will be the destruction of us.
“In SD lights cars cause almost no road damage but pay more per weight than do heavy-road damaging vehicles.”
Agreed, I have often said that people who choose to drive lighter fuel efficient vehicles should get tax breaks.
“One problem with this tax-and-waste legislature is it won’t stop.”
I have often felt that if we eliminate the sales tax on food, clothes and utilities and only apply it to luxury items and other services and eliminate video lottery and have a income tax that only affects people making over $60,000 a year we wouldn’t have this problem. You are right, too much spending is going on, but more importantly they expect the working poor of this state to subsidize their rich friends exploits, like no-bid contracts for overcharging ad agencies. We should also legalize marijuana, talk about being able to bankroll government.