[Hydroshock]

How about something radical, like CUT THE F***ING SPENDING!!!!

[BubbaBobTX]

I understand the Texas Legislature has taken $10 Billion in gas taxes that were earmarked for road building and maintenance during the past 10 years and diverted the money to pay for general budget items. That is why we have no money left for roads.

[rollo tomasi]

"CUT THE F***ING SPENDING!!!!"

But Boo-hoo, it's for the childrun!™

[untrained skeptic]

How about something radical, like CUT THE F***ING SPENDING!!!!

As far as road construction and maintenance are concerned I'd say those are essential things the government does need to do.

Cutting out the graft and corruption in road construction could help reduce spending, but to some extent the roads do need to be maintained and even expanded in areas of population growth.

The costs of such construction and maintenance keeps going up, and the gas tax has remained a fixed amount per gallon rather than a percentage.

There's a lot of pork in government spending, and I'm sure that a good amount of pork could be trimmed from road construction costs, but expecting a tax of a fixed amount per gallon to continue cover the costs of the state roads despite inflation isn't realistic.

And the roads are a vital part of keeping your state economy healthy.

[zendari]

That has nothing to do with it.

When we can finance roads with tolls, which are paid directly proportionally to the amount of usage of said roads, why would you raise taxes and bury the expense elsewhere?

User fees are the best form of government revenue....if you drive a lot, you pay a lot more tolls. Don't drive at all and don't pay any.