Major hike in gas tax, fees urged : Mass. panel's plan would raise $20b

boston globe ^ | September 16, 2007 | Andrea Estes

[Man50D]

Gas in Massachusetts is cheaper than Connecticut, and people in northern Connecticut go to Massachusetts to gas up.

Now the flow will reverse?

I doubt it. Connecticut gasoline tax is about 20 cents higher per gallon than Massachusetts.

[Snoopers-868th]

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...

How nice for those who have no choice but to drive to work. They can pay the additional tax on gasoline to feed more subsidized dollars into the already subsidized city peoples' cheap mass transit ride. Wouldn't it make more sense to charge the comparable cost (to owning and driving a car) per passenger on mass transit systems?

[george76]

This new gas tax will likely apply to truckers : thus the cost of food and other basics will be further inflated...

[TChris]

What a bizarre political world we live in. Taking billions of dollars from people is now called "raising" money.

Governments don't "raise" money; they take it. (New tagline)

[george76]

[Snoopers-868th]

It is just a vicious circle feeding pockets via taxes and government subsidized programs with cost passed on again to the consumer.

[RetiredArmy]

Taxsuchuttus living up to its name.

[N3WBI3]

“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...”

IOW: Filling the tank of a small sedan will cost you 1.38$ more!

[jackieaxe]

I left that sh*thole of a State 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.

I got out of Massachusetts because I could. It's my home, where I was raised, where my parents live, but at every turn, the state is taking money out of your pockets and they don't spread it around. All my money went to Boston and stayed there.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

How much of that 23.5 cents a gallon is actually used for the state roads in MA?

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Thanks.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Wouldn't it make more sense to charge the comparable cost (to owning and driving a car) per passenger on mass transit systems?

Such a change would make mass transit unaffordable to people who cannot afford cars. However, if they'd stop funneling gas tax money into mass transit, and even privatize it without putting it out of reach of the aforementioned people, that would be fine with me.

[Snoopers-868th]

Such a change would make mass transit unaffordable to people who cannot afford cars. However, if they'd stop funneling gas tax money into mass transit, and even privatize it without putting it out of reach of the aforementioned people, that would be fine with me.

Are you suggesting that mass transit is another welfare program for those who cannot afford to buy a car? In other words we get to pay for their car via mass subsidity! LOL. Good old government trouth. It it can's be self-sufficient I say tough rocks. Raise the cost of mass transit until it is self-sufficient.

[Snoopers-868th]

OOPS, “If it can’t be . . .”

[Eagles Talon IV]

My reasons were twofold. First was like yourself, because we could. We originally built a home on the Cape (1994) and thought we would retire there. After several years of witnessing local budget over rides voted by the people who are so easily panicked by local officials who cry gloom and doom if they don’t get the extra 2-3 million they need, I got fed up. These people do not realize that a budget over ride is not just for that one year but is forever. I saw the handwriting on the wall a couple of years ago and thought it was only a matter of time before a lib Governor took over and would start the money grab in earnest by finding a way around the prop 2.5 passed in the late 70’s (I think) that limited the increase in prop, taxes. Sure enough Deval is looking for this as his promises to give every HS student who graduates a “free”college education and bail out every homeowner who has a sub prime mortgage problem.

Also, and no offense meant here, but I find the people of the region (New England) to be exceptionally xenophobic. I also cannot stand the ultra liberalism that permeates every facet of the region.