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Originally Posted by TakeFive
Why is it being done in other states? I'm unaware of any voter backlash in states that have raised their gas taxes.
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Most states do not need voter approval to raise the gas tax - the legislature can do it. It's one thing to vote for it in the legislature and then hope the people (i) don't notice and (ii) don't kick you out of office for it. There's strength in numbers. It's quite another thing to stick your neck out and actively campaign in favor of a tax increase. Which is the type of leadership it would take for such an increase to ever pass.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TakeFive
If not, then the legislators would be merely giving the voters the option to decide for themselves. You want crappy or good roads? Do voters want tolls on Main Street?
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Again, there's no champion. "Let the voters choose" is a very weak argument. Legislators take the job of referring things to voters very seriously, because they know that, to a certain extent, if they refer a measure, it is presumed they support it.
Nobody believes - and polls do not support - the notion that you can vote in favor of putting a tax hike on the ballot while not supporting it. I don't think you are understanding just how terribly gas tax increases poll.
Also, people expect something-for-nothing because they
do not believe or trust that there's truly a deficit of funding available. People dislike tolls, but it fits with their pre-conceived notion of government screwing them, which is why they are actually easier to implement. So long as as there is the option to not pay them, opposition is largely muted and limited to the "Lexus lane" arguments. Which also supports pre-conceived notions of rich people screwing them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TakeFive
Given the higher cost for maintenance and repairs (not to mention the inconvenience) for cars & trucks that drive on bad as apposed to good roads normally makes the cost of another nickel or dime per gallon of gas a preferred tradeoff.
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Polls disagree. It's not even ambiguous.
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Originally Posted by TakeFive
Is the cost of CDOT maintenance equipment (like snowplows, etc) going up or down?
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Sure, but it's not like revenues are entirely stagnant.