Comments on: Lawmakers Cross Party Lines on Transpo Funding as Debate Rages http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/lawmakers-cross-party-lines-on-transpo-funding-as-debate-rages/ Covering the New York City Streets Renaissance Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:07:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: fpteditors http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/lawmakers-cross-party-lines-on-transpo-funding-as-debate-rages/comment-page-1/#comment-82351 fpteditors Wed, 15 Jul 2009 18:29:01 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=10911#comment-82351 How does expect anything from the federal government on this front? Oil wars, stimulus money spent on roads, auto bailouts... aren't these enough to convince one that at the federal level the government is controlled by the fossil-fuel industry? But they can't control every municipality. You can have free public transit in your home town for 60 basis points of tax. The benefits are immediate and you will get the money back ten times over. How does expect anything from the federal government on this front? Oil wars, stimulus money spent on roads, auto bailouts… aren’t these enough to convince one that at the federal level the government is controlled by the fossil-fuel industry? But they can’t control every municipality. You can have free public transit in your home town for 60 basis points of tax. The benefits are immediate and you will get the money back ten times over.

]]> By: Grinner http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/lawmakers-cross-party-lines-on-transpo-funding-as-debate-rages/comment-page-1/#comment-82321 Grinner Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:53:18 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=10911#comment-82321 By pushing the new deal out 18 months, Congresspeople can use it as a campaign issue, a la "re-elect me, because i have the seniority to make meaningful changes in the transportation law, which we all know is broken." On the otherhand, if they support a 12 month proposal, then they actually either have to be in Washington to vote "the will of their constituents" (keep gas taxes low!) when they'd rather be campaigning, or they will have to accept what Rep. Oberstar gets voted through a quorum. Either way, they provide their opponents with ammunition. By pushing the new deal out 18 months, Congresspeople can use it as a campaign issue, a la “re-elect me, because i have the seniority to make meaningful changes in the transportation law, which we all know is broken.” On the otherhand, if they support a 12 month proposal, then they actually either have to be in Washington to vote “the will of their constituents” (keep gas taxes low!) when they’d rather be campaigning, or they will have to accept what Rep. Oberstar gets voted through a quorum. Either way, they provide their opponents with ammunition.

]]> By: Joe S http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/lawmakers-cross-party-lines-on-transpo-funding-as-debate-rages/comment-page-1/#comment-82301 Joe S Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:26:12 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=10911#comment-82301 Does this moment in time even qualify as an election year? Mid-terms are 16 months away. If you're a member of Congress and you're not serious about reforming transportation policy now, why would anyone believe you'll get serious in 18 months? Does this moment in time even qualify as an election year? Mid-terms are 16 months away. If you’re a member of Congress and you’re not serious about reforming transportation policy now, why would anyone believe you’ll get serious in 18 months?

]]> By: Grinner http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/lawmakers-cross-party-lines-on-transpo-funding-as-debate-rages/comment-page-1/#comment-82281 Grinner Wed, 15 Jul 2009 17:04:27 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=10911#comment-82281 Correction: Mr. Baucus is a senator from Montana (MT). Correction: Mr. Baucus is a senator from Montana (MT).

]]> By: Charles Siegel http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/lawmakers-cross-party-lines-on-transpo-funding-as-debate-rages/comment-page-1/#comment-82251 Charles Siegel Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:35:17 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=10911#comment-82251 Boxer has said she is open to indexing the gas tax, which has gone untouched by Washington since 1993, to inflation. Why not charge the gas tax as a percentage of purchase price, like the sales tax? The price of gas is going to go up more rapidly than inflation. Boxer has said she is open to indexing the gas tax, which has gone untouched by Washington since 1993, to inflation.

Why not charge the gas tax as a percentage of purchase price, like the sales tax? The price of gas is going to go up more rapidly than inflation.

]]> By: Senator Love http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/07/15/lawmakers-cross-party-lines-on-transpo-funding-as-debate-rages/comment-page-1/#comment-82161 Senator Love Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:11:22 +0000 http://www.streetsblog.org/?p=10911#comment-82161 I respect, like, love Oberstar, but like, it's an election year and American's aren't like used to like paying for anything anymore. It's like we're representing a country that like wants free roads and stuff. Um like, look at California. So like, we really like can't possibly raise the gas tax even if it's really low. Maybe we could like get a special deal like prescription drugs from Canada and sell all the roads and stuff to rich companies and they'll give us lots of money. I'll talk to Jim about that. I respect, like, love Oberstar, but like, it’s an election year and American’s aren’t like used to like paying for anything anymore. It’s like we’re representing a country that like wants free roads and stuff. Um like, look at California. So like, we really like can’t possibly raise the gas tax even if it’s really low. Maybe we could like get a special deal like prescription drugs from Canada and sell all the roads and stuff to rich companies and they’ll give us lots of money. I’ll talk to Jim about that.

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