Comments on: Mixed Messages From Critic of NY Gas Tax Holiday

By: Angus Grieve-Smith

Angus Grieve-Smith — Mon, 12 May 2008 04:41:32 +0000

Senate Democrats feel it would be better to just send everyone $100. I agree, but I'd rather see the money go to transit - across the state:

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=57761&GID=lUqLxtQGsbDLCyZtl1lxuPr3x67qoTpb05G6+iHIInE%3D

(via the Albany Project)

By: JF

JF — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:56:15 +0000

Krueger represents the Upper East Side. Why not take the money for that rebate and spend it on the Second Avenue Subway? That would do a lot more for her constituents' commutes.

By: Ben Fried

Ben Fried — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:49:35 +0000

BicyclesOnly -- Similar statements haven't come to our attention. Silver and Paterson seem to couch their opposition to the holiday in the argument that prices wouldn't be affected that much:

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dailypolitics/2008/04/about-that-gas-tax-holiday.html

By: BicyclesOnly

BicyclesOnly — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:26:20 +0000

It bears mention that Liz Krueger was a publicly commited advocate of congestion pricing, so she not a consistent panderer to motoring constituents like so many of her fellow legislators. The $75K income threshold for rebate eligility under her proposal would cut quite a few of her constituents out of the program.

Ben, has any other member of the state legislature condemned the state gas tax holiday as Krueger has done?

By: d

Thu, 08 May 2008 15:25:05 +0000

So, congestion pricing didn't pass because it would hurt the pocketbooks of people who drove even though it would help the lives of people who didn't.

However, a gas tax holiday would less money in the state budget for road repairs, bridge repairs, and maintaining infrastructure directly related to driving. So, when more money is needed, the state would have to raise taxes on EVERYONE, including those who don't drive, because millions, if not billions, will be gone from the state coffers if this passes.

Where will politicians like Brodsky be when they have to raise state taxes to make up for this and when those taxes come out of the pocketbooks of people who don't drive?

Sorry, Albany, you can't have it both ways.

By: Glenn

Glenn — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:07:24 +0000

Right, forget about saving people money at the pump when you can write a favored group (middle to low income motorists) a check and take credit for it. What about the price of milk or chicken or laundry detergent or any number of consumer necessities? When did gas become a "necessity" to folks who live in Kreuger's district on the East Side of MANHATTAN?

By: Ben Fried

Ben Fried — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:56:50 +0000

thanks J. Mork - amended.

By: J. Mork

J. Mork — Thu, 08 May 2008 14:51:12 +0000

Rhode Island is smaller than Delaware.

But, yeah, you're right -- how about a tax refund for people who don't own any car, and therefore aren't contributing to the problem?