Re: Info on bills to reduce gas taxes

[Tom Lamar <lamar@pcei.org>]

Gary,

Thank you for opposing both of these bills to reduce the gas tax.  In my
opinion it is the wrong direction to go with our gasoline tax.  Given the
impact our vehicles have on our communities and environment, we should be
paying more, not less for gasoline.

I understand that currently, the gas tax goes to pay for more and wider
roadways, but if the legislature ever feels that they have "caught up" with
these expenses, I welcome them to START investing in a public
transportation.  Idaho is still one of only two states that has no
state-based funding for public transportation (Alabama being the other).

The Idaho Public Transporation division is literally confined to a
double-wide trailer next to the Transporation Department Headquarters.  It
is time to mainstream Public Transportation in Idaho and make it more than
an afterthought.  My vote is to raise the gas tax, or start taxing tires,
or raise the registration, or cut highway spending (God
forbid)...something, anything to make PT work for Idaho.

Thank you for your work.

Tom

>Two bills were introduced in the Senate Transportation Committee recently
>and both would lower the amount of state fuel taxes paid by Idaho
>motorists.  One would decrease the amount by 4 cents per gallon, the other
>by 2 cents per gallon.
>
>Both bills were introduced by Senator Evan Frasure of Pocatello, Chairman
>of the Senate Transportation Committee.  There are suspicions that these
>bills were political statements being made by a Senator criticized for
>leading the charge to raise the fuel tax by 4 cents per gallon a couple of
>years ago.  I have not heard Sen. Frasure confirm this, however.
>
>Northern Idaho legislators generally agree that when Highway 95 and
>Highway 55 are of the quality of most southern Idaho roads, then we will
>consider such a move.   Gasoline is currently selling for very reasonable
>prices in most areas of the state so there appears to be no pressure from
>the public for any reduction in the fuel tax. ( Prices in the mid nineties
>are common in Boise at this time).  Constituents do  remain concerned
>about the conditions of the both Highway 95 and Highway 55.
>
>At the current time, Senator Frasure has said that the bill to reduce the
>tax by 4 cents is dead and probably the 2 cent reduction as well.  I do
>not believe he has the votes in his committee to advance either bill.
>
>The numbers of these bills are SB1167 and SB 1172.  I will continue to
>oppose both bills.
>
>Senator Gary J. Schroeder


Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director

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Please Note our individual staff email addresses below:

Thomas C. Lamar, Executive Director: lamar@pcei.org
Kathleen Lester, Office Manager/Environmental Education: lester@pcei.org
Laurie Gardes, Financial Manager:  gardes@turbonet.com
Anita Grover, Watersheds: grover@pcei.org
Colette DePhelps, Community Food Systems: dephelps@pcei.org
Peggy Adams, Watersheds/Food Systems: peggy931@uidaho.edu
Jon Barrett, Idaho Smart Growth:  smartgro@micron.net
Elaine Clegg, Idaho Smart Growth:  eclegg@micron.net

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