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YOU CAN NOW COMMENT ON STORIES AND POLLS<br />
LET US KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THE ISSUES.<br />
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POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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The Federal government's auditor says Congress should institute a pilot program to test raising money for road repairs through a tax on vehicle miles traveled. Over the coming decade, the federal government faces a $110 billion shortfall for road repairs without new revenue.<br />
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As Americans buy more fuel efficiency vehicles, the federal Highway Trust Fund is running out of money. Congress spent $34 billion to cover shortfalls in the trust fund from 2008-10 and has approved $18.8 billion for 2013 and 2014.<br />
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The Congressional Budget Office in August estimated that to meet future highway needs between 2012 and 2022, the trust fund would need another $110 billion in funding.<br />
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GAO says Congress could either hike gas taxes to 31.6 to 46.6 cents a gallon to fix the roads, or impose a 0.9 cent to 2.2 cent per mile tax on all travel.<br />
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GAO says to address shortfalls in road funding through a mileage tax, drivers of passenger vehicles with average fuel efficiency would pay $108 to $248 per year in mileage fees compared to the $96 these drivers currently pay in federal gasoline tax.<br />
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It would be a boon to SUV owners and other owners of larger vehicles. Drivers of less efficient vehicles now pay more in fuel taxes than drivers of vehicles with greater fuel efficiency.<br />
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A hybrid owner getting 40 mpg could see road taxes rise from $53 a year to as much as $248, an SUV owner would see taxes rise from $132 to $248. EVs don't burn gas and users don't pay anything for road repairs.<br />
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Several states have tested systems that gather vehicle mileage and location data, which has raised privacy concerns, but none have actually collected money from users. Almost all states expressed concerns about privacy issues if Global Positioning Systems were used to track the location of passenger vehicles.<br />
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&quot;Mileage fees for passenger vehicles, however, continue to face significant public concerns related to privacy as well as cost challenges,</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> GAO said.<br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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How should we pay for road repairs in the future?<br />
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Continue to use the federal and state gas taxes to fund road repairs by raising the gas tax.<br />
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Change the funding to be based on miles driven rather than fuel consumption.<br />
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Undecided<br />
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TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK<br />
<a href="http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/how-should-we-pay-road-repairs-future">http://www.clinton-countygop.org/content/how-should-we-pay-road-repairs-future</a><br />
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(To enter your comments click on </span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;">Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: larger;">&quot;</span><span style="font-size: larger;"> after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Do you think Congressman Camp should vote to raise the debt ceiling?<br />
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Yes. . . . . . . . . . . .15%<br />
No. . . . . . . . . . .&nbsp; 85%<br />
Undecided . . . . .0%<br />
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THERE WAS ONE COMMENT SUBMITTED:<br />
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COMMENT #1<br />
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debt ceiling<br />
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I can't believe the coward Republicans cannot find the courage to stand against Obama and to take their only trump card that they have and cash it in. They should just say, NO DEAL UNTIL THE SENATE SUBMITS A BUDGET. NOTHING WILL PASS, NOTHING GETS DONE UNTIL THE BUDGET IS PASSED IN THE SENATE!!!!!<br />
Ida Salisbury<br />
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