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NEW POLL OVERVIEW:<br />
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Michigan Legislative leaders in Lansing are proposing a new plan to raise fuel taxes as the primary way to increase state road repair funds by at least the $1.2 billion per year.<br />
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This latest approach to raise more revenue for road repairs will focus on a House-passed bill that will set the wholesale tax. The four bill package is designed to raise road revenue by an additional $450 million annually. Senator Richardville is seeking to triple that amount.<br />
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The new House plan would:<br />
1.&nbsp; Include a switch to a </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>percentage tax</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>.<br />
2.&nbsp; Replace Michigan</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>s flat fuel taxes of 19 cents a gallon on gasoline and 15 cents a gallon on diesel.<br />
3. Add a 6 percent tax on gasoline and diesel, that would boost revenues a modest amount initially but rely on future price increases to increase future revenues later.<br />
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Senator Richardville told reporters he wants to raise $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion a year more for roads, but wouldn</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>t say how he planned to accomplish the goal. A rate that effectively doubled the 19-cents-a-gallon flat rate to 38 cents a gallon would create about $1 billion in added revenue, according to fiscal analysts.<br />
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Opposition to the plan comes from Michigan</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>s petroleum industry and fuel wholesalers, who argued lawmakers instead should boost the state</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>s 6 percent general sales tax. Such a hike would require a constitutional amendment approved by voters.<br />
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Rate increases of the magnitude under consideration would give Michigan the highest fuel taxes in the country, when the state</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>s 6 percent sales tax on fuel also is considered.<br />
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The sales tax revenue from fuel goes mostly to schools and revenue sharing for local governments, not roads.<br />
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Michigan currently has an effective tax rate of about 60 cents a gallon now, compared with 48 cents a gallon in Ohio. The rates under discussion, he said, would make the state</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span>s fuel taxes about 80 cents per gallon.<br />
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NEW POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Is it time to have the legislature raise taxes to increase the gas tax to fix the roads?<br />
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Yes<br />
No<br />
Undecided<br />
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TO VOTE IN THIS POLL CLICK ON THIS LINK<br />
<a href="http://clinton-countygop.org/content/it-time-have-legislature-raise-taxes-increase-gas-tax-fix-roads">http://clinton-countygop.org/content/it-time-have-legislature-raise-taxes-increase-gas-tax-fix-roads</a><br />
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(To enter your comments click on </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>Add new comment</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> after you vote.)<br />
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PREVIOUS POLL QUESTION:<br />
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Should the Lansing area create a </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span>Rapid Transit Bus line</span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">'</span></span> between the Capitol and Okemos?<br />
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Yes - 13%<br />
No - 74%<br />
Undecided - 13% <br />
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THREE COMMENTS WERE MADE ON THIS POLL:<br />
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COMMENT #1<br />
Rapid Transit<br />
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This is right out of the UN Agenda 21 playbook; i.e., talking about the environment, population growth, and confined housing. The goal is to have people in concentrated areas with stores, bike paths and services within walking distance or provided by the government. The areas further out will be left to the wildlife.<br />
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Of course, to keep us guessing, the acronyms and catch phrases are constantly being changed to such things as &quot;sustainable development&quot; &quot;ICLEI&quot;, &quot;The Grand Vision&quot;, &quot;Place Making&quot; and many more. Our Representative in the various Gov't agencies are all to quick to grab the &quot;free&quot; money they think they are getting from the Fed or State. It always comes with strings attached.<br />
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Unborn generations will be the ultimate losers.<br />
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COMMENT #2<br />
RBT Line<br />
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If it is such a good idea the market would already be providing this service.<br />
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COMMENT #3<br />
RTB Line<br />
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I can think of much better ways to spend $195,000,000 that would benefit more people in the area. How about seeking these same types of funds to fix our existing infrastructure?<br />
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