Elizabeth's Blog

I don't think so. It's an election tool at best. The taxes gained from the federal fuel tax fund our interstates and as such are to vital a component. Refunding this tax money would cause the budget to be even more in disarray than it is now.

It is merely a gimmick. The federal budget will be operating in the red next year for the first time in my lifetime. The federal gas tax hasn't been raised in 15 years yet inflation and costs to build infrastructure has tripled (at least). Every dollar invested in transportation yields $7-20 in return in the economy. They need to raise the tax incrementally (index it with the CPI) until they get a user fee (pay per mile) system in place (like Oregon tested). Central Florida is facing a 35-45 BILLION dollar shortfall over the next 30-40 years. Just to cover that, gas tax needs to raise about 50 cents now and index it for the future (i don't see this happening). The paradox...as gas prices increase, people switch to hybrids or more fuel efficient cars to buy less gas which drives the road/bridge budget down. more people still continue to move to florida requiring more infrastructure but Florida cannot sustain it because the budget is built on gas tax...so essentially the state and feds are in the oil selling business (another reason a new system needs to be found).

Toll roads don't use tax money, which is why they are tolled. The expressway is its own entity living solely off tolls (maybe some limited partnerships with state and feds).

The story run the other night on the news was very misleading in the price of gas. $4 a gallon gas has about 18 cents in federal tax, 11-12 cents per gallon in state tax, about 6-12 cents in local tax (volusia is the only county to exercise its full local option gas tax...the other counties are leaving money behind by not implem

Don't look to the lawmakers; look to the oil companies, which are making record-breaking profits over America's hardship. Cut the federal gas tax or declare a "gas tax holiday," and the oil companies will just keep the prices where they are or hike them up to make even more money, so don't expect lower prices. The problem here is greed trumping moderation and patriotism, and selfish corporations that feel no need to pay back the system that allows them the freedom and capitalism to make their profits in the first place. It's pitiful.

h: has "one little visa card with a 500.00 limit" and doesnt want it raised

A "fuel tax break" wouldn't lower the price of gas. The oil companies will just raise the price back to where it was to make even more profit. And, as noted, the federal gas tax hasn't been raised in quite a long time to keep up with inflation and infrastructure costs. Florida, of all states, should know by now the "cutting taxes" gimmick can only go so far: government needs money to run, and the more we whittle away from its funding, the more our quality of life and social fabric suffers: poorer roads, poorer schools, poorer law enforcement, etc.

lowering taxes and eliminating unconstitutional interference are the only things the government can do to help us. Anything else makes things worse.

Things will change a bit when people get some courage and we all stand up together and say we're not taking it anymore. Everyone wants to cry at the gas pump, but I don't see people doing anything. I don't remember when it happened exactly, but in England, truck drivers all got together and blocked entrances to gas stations.
No one has any B*lls!