vision2020
Re: Info on bills to reduce gas taxes
Tom you bring up a very good point, moreso than any that I have seen or
heard. I think public trans. would be a better idea yet moreso than toll
roads or anything else. I did not know that this was the case with public
trans. Have you heard why this is so??? I would like to hear more on this
subject!!!! Anyone??
Robert Moore
At 09:35 AM 2/17/99 -0800, Tom Lamar wrote:
>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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>Palouse-Clearwater Environmental Institute
>P O Box 8596; 112 West 4th St; Suite #1
>Moscow ID 83843-1096
>Phone (208)882-1444; Fax (208)882-8029
>url: http://www.moscow.com/pcei
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>Please Note our individual staff email addresses below:
>
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>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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