Posted on 09/16/2007 10:27:39 PM PDT by george76
A special state commission looking for ways to keep the state's roads and rail systems from falling into disrepair will recommend that the state raise the gasoline tax by 11.5 cents a gallon next year and impose a "user fee" of 5 cents a mile to drive on major state highways...
The Transportation Finance Commission, appointed by the Legislature in 2004, is expected to make its recommendations public tomorrow...
To close the gap, the commission is proposing a package of tolls and taxes that would generate more than $20 billion.
According to a summary of the recommendations, the commission will recommend a gas tax increase of 49 percent in 2008, from 23.5 cents to 35 cents a gallon...
Besides measures that could make money, the commission will propose 22 changes that could save money...
It will recommend eliminating paid police details on the state's road and bridge projects. The use of flagmen, instead of police, to patrol public construction projects could save up to $100 million...
Paid police details has been one of the most jealously guarded of all police perks and police unions have successfully blocked every effort on Beacon Hill to eliminate the practice.
The commission will also recommend other money-saving measures including scaling back the MBTA employees' lucrative health and retirement benefits, described by the commission as "the most generous in the country."
The report cites the pension plan, which allows MBTA employees to retire with a full pension after 23 years of service, and the health insurance plan, which gives workers free health insurance after they retire.
(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...
If every tax were at 100 percent, the Dimmycraps would be camoring to raise them.
After all, lining their pockets wiht our money (via taxes) is what make liberals superior to you and me.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
And, of course, the MBTA will just go along with this; after all, they voted in the baboons who gave them these perks - surely these same baboons will gladly throw away their political careers by taking them away, so there’s no use in fighting them...
I guess rising gasoline prices aren’t so bad after all.
What a shameful way to fall, in the state and people who held the famous tea party. Two despicable senators, corruption throughout government, barnyard morals. When the hell are these people going to look at themselves and realize the shame they have come to.
We are sure that the police will also give up their sweat heart deals and also continue to vote for the DUmmies...
/s
sweet
Michigan’s no better. A Canadian Governor who wants to raise the state sales tax and state income tax, $1.8 billion state deficit, #1 in the nation for people and business leaving the state. Thanks Granholm, Levin, Stabenow, Conyers and the mom and son team of the Kilpatricks. All flaming Dumbocrats.
And all this revenue will definitely go for upkeep on the roads and rails? Riiight.
Even if it does the money will end up in some union bosses hands for incompetent work anyway. You know, the kind of work that results in ceilings falling on cars and killing people.
FYI
A bonanza for gas stations lining the MA/NH/VT border from Salisbury to North Adams. Then they can pass a law making it illegal to gas up out of state.
Gas in Massachusetts is cheaper than Connecticut, and people in northern Connecticut go to Massachusetts to gas up.
Now the flow will reverse?
And yet, where I live, in the State of Maine, I’m always hearing commercials on the radio by actor Jeff Daniels claiming what a great place Michigan is for starting a business and what a wonderful place to live, blah, blah, blah.
Sounds like Jeff Daniels has been having too much Jack Daniels.
FWIW, I live 800 miles to the south and it's crystal clear from my vantage point.....
I left that sh*thole of a Sate 3 months ago and everyday I feel as if I have been reborn. I never realized how much I despised those people until I left.
Not until people stop voting for them, and probably not even then.
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