Highway Crisis looms if Congress does not act

[Dad2three]

Just another failed policy by the left who got what they wanted in higher gpm and electric cars they never thought of less gas being bought

It's as dumb as raising cigarette taxes to fund schools and then browbeating everyone to stop smoking.

These people are ******* idiots. Seriously.

In order to be a lefty you can't think very hard or your entire philosophy will fall apart.

Only a left can think raising the taxes on smokes will simultaniously make people quit smoking AND increase the revenue from those dropped sales.

Of course they also think raising taxes on anything they don't like in order to eliminate that option to the public somehow doesn't apply to income taxes.

You have to be a special kind of stupid to be a lefty.

BUT tax cuts bring in more revenues right? *shaking head*

 

[OnePercenter]

Surely businesses that use large trucks don't need good roads.... give em big potholes and rough roads... so business slows down.

Big business passes costs onto the consumer. The consumer stands to loose by additional wear on their cars.

But they stand to gain by tacking on another 15 cents to their gas prices that will never actually be used to pay for the roads. Once again, you're a ******* genius.

Who is 'they?'

btw; Ford took bailout monies.

 

[Desperado]

It's very simple, stop spending money rebuilding the Mid East and spend that money here at home rebuilding our own infrastructure. We need to re-evaluate our priorities and insure that our tax money is only spent within our borders.

 

[HelenaHandbag]

These 2 Charts Prove American Drivers Don't Pay Enough for Roads


To wit: Americans pay around $450 a year in road charges, according to the data compiled by Gomez and Vassallo. That's roughly 3 to 4 times less drivers from other countries in the study. Once again the key culprit is the gas tax. U.S. gas tax rates are up to 83 percent lower for gasoline cars and 81 percent lower for diesel cars compared to the same taxes paid in European nations.


These 2 Charts Prove American Drivers Don't Pay Enough for Roads - CityLab

Funny that article fails to mention all the taxes taken in by heavy haul trucking.

I wonder why that is?

Can't read huh?

Of course the tax revenues are including from trucking

I read fine. No mention of commercial trucking revenues.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

It's as dumb as raising cigarette taxes to fund schools and then browbeating everyone to stop smoking.

These people are ******* idiots. Seriously.

In order to be a lefty you can't think very hard or your entire philosophy will fall apart.

Only a left can think raising the taxes on smokes will simultaniously make people quit smoking AND increase the revenue from those dropped sales.

Of course they also think raising taxes on anything they don't like in order to eliminate that option to the public somehow doesn't apply to income taxes.

You have to be a special kind of stupid to be a lefty.

BUT tax cuts bring in more revenues right? *shaking head*

Yes actually that's exactly how it works. The more you tax the less of that something you will be selling.

Something you aren't comprehending in your little chart in this thread is that yes the cost of ownership of a vehicle is very high in europe. But that doesn't result in people getting better roads for their awesome new cars. They run around in crap cars or mopeds. You know why? Because the average person can't afford a real car in europe. They have been taxed out of being able to afford decent transportation.

If you shake your head hard enough maybe the cob webs will fall out. And then you can do something to make sure your three kids actually get to live better than the european's.

 

[francoHFW]

Brainwashed TP grasshoppers...me me me money grubbers...a disgrace. As the mega rich pay less %wise than everyone else in all taxes and fees, and the nonrich and the country fall apart. Functional moron hater dupes...

 

[Dad2three]

It would be interesting to see even on piece of "infrastructure" legislation that has been obstructed and filibustered. But don't put yourself out for lil' ol' me.

[MENTION=20545]Mr. H.[/MENTION]

Understand that we already pay enough taxes to fund it but the R won't allow it any more than they'll allow immigration or anything else.

Economic Sabotage: Republicans Obstruct Infrastructure Work

Senate blocks $60 billion infrastructure plan, another part of Obama jobs bill - The Washington Post

http://takingnote.blogs.nytimes.com...bill-for-veterans/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

Thanks for these. Without digging too deeply, I can already see there's more than meets the eye.

Democrats want a tax on wealthy to fund infrastructure, Republicans don't.

Republicans offer up something, Democrats knock it down.

Also Thursday, Democrats joined to block a separate Republican proposal to extend the government’s highway spending authority for the next two years and roll back some environmental regulations. A procedural motion to advance the measure was rejected 53 to 47. The current highway spending authority will lapse in February.

Republicans would rather see more efficiency and accountability in government and more responsible management of spending habits. Even printing $58 billion a month has done little to nothing for our economy other than hold interest rates artificially low and make fat cats out of Wall Street investors.

I'm not pleased with either party's performance in D.C., but I more favor the Republican approach to managing this country. Hey that's just me.

" funded with a 0.7 percent surtax on those making more than a million dollars a year."

WOW, A WHOLE 7/10TH OF 1%? YOU MEAN THE TOP RATE ISD STILL MUCH LOWER THAN RONNIE'S 50% THE FIRST 6 YEARS?

The Republican proposal would have pushed back many health, safety, and environmental regulations that corporations consider onerous.


The Senate Republican proposal (S. 1786, Long-Term Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2011, 106-page PDF) would

Extend SAFETEA-LU to September 30, 2013 (but doesn’t fully fund the projected shortfall in the Highway Trust Fund)

Streamline project delivery, by reducing regulatory review timeframes

Eliminate the Transportation Enhancement setaside

force all new, major health, safety, and environmental protections through a congressional approval process
require the EPA to reconsider onerous new regulations that impact the nation’s cement producers

The bill would be paid for by transferring $40 billion from previously appropriated discretionary spending. It gives the President the authority to choose the source of funding, as long as it doesn’t come from defense, veterans or Army Corps of Engineers accounts.


YEAH, THAT WAS A 'REAL' PROPOSAL FROM THE GOP


Senate Votes On Transportation Jobs Bills | Transportation Issues Daily

 

[Dad2three]

In order to be a lefty you can't think very hard or your entire philosophy will fall apart.

Only a left can think raising the taxes on smokes will simultaniously make people quit smoking AND increase the revenue from those dropped sales.

Of course they also think raising taxes on anything they don't like in order to eliminate that option to the public somehow doesn't apply to income taxes.

You have to be a special kind of stupid to be a lefty.

BUT tax cuts bring in more revenues right? *shaking head*

Yes actually that's exactly how it works. The more you tax the less of that something you will be selling.

Something you aren't comprehending in your little chart in this thread is that yes the cost of ownership of a vehicle is very high in europe. But that doesn't result in people getting better roads for their awesome new cars. They run around in crap cars or mopeds. You know why? Because the average person can't afford a real car in europe. They have been taxed out of being able to afford decent transportation.

If you shake your head hard enough maybe the cob webs will fall out. And then you can do something to make sure your three kids actually get to live better than the european's.

Bush CEA Chair Mankiw: Claim That Broad-Based Income Tax Cuts Increase Revenue Is Not "Credible," Capital Income Tax Cuts Also Don't Pay For Themselves

Bush-Appointed Federal Reserve Chair Bernanke: "I Don't Think That As A General Rule Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."


Bush Treasury Secretary Paulson: "As A General Rule, I Don't Believe That Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."

Bush OMB Director Nussle: "Some Say That [The Tax Cut] Was A Total Loss. Some Say They Totally Pay For Themselves. It's Neither Extreme."


Bush CEA Chairman Lazear: "As A General Rule, We Do Not Think Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."


Bush Economic Adviser Viard: "Federal Revenue Is Lower Today Than It Would Have Been Without The Tax Cuts."


Bush Treasury Official Carroll: "We Do Not Think Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."


Reagan Chief Economist Feldstein: "It's Not That You Get More Revenue By Lowering Tax Rates, It Is That You Don't Lose As Much."

Feldstein In 1986: "Hyperbole" That Reagan Tax Cut "Would Actually Increase Tax Revenue."

Conservative Economist Holtz-Eakin: "No Serious Research Evidence" Suggests Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."

Tax Foundation's Prante: "A Stretch" To Claim "Cutting Capital Gains Taxes Raises Tax Revenues."




Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950


Federal, state and local income taxes consumed 9.2% of all personal income in 2009, the lowest rate since 1950

Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950 - USATODAY.com

 

[Dad2three]

Funny that article fails to mention all the taxes taken in by heavy haul trucking.

I wonder why that is?

Can't read huh?

Of course the tax revenues are including from trucking

I read fine. No mention of commercial trucking revenues.

THERE ARE LINKS, IT'S A STUDY, Of course trucking revenues are considered part of gas taxes *sheesh*

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/pubs/hf/pl11028/chapter6.cfm

 

[Missouri_Mike]

Big business passes costs onto the consumer. The consumer stands to loose by additional wear on their cars.

But they stand to gain by tacking on another 15 cents to their gas prices that will never actually be used to pay for the roads. Once again, you're a ******* genius.

Who is 'they?'

btw; Ford took bailout monies.

No Ford didn't, they were forced to but didn't need or want it. Another talking point you have no real answer for other than your pathetic ramblings on this board.

THEY is the consumer. They get to pay not only higher prices for products with a fuel tax increase but they actually get to pay even more for their own transportation. It's like being fucked over twice. Well there's actually a third screwing coming. The extra money will never get to the roads. It will get sucked up into the government cesspool of incompetence and your car will be going down the road like it's on a pot hole ridden slot car track.

Nice job moron. You have perfected the trifecta of ******* the average person.

 

[Dad2three]

How about the government using the gasoline taxes that we already pay to maintain roads and bridges to actually maintain roads and bridges?

Do Roads Pay for Themselves?:
Setting the Record Straight on Transportation Funding

Highway advocates often claim that roads “pay for themselves,” with gasoline taxes and other charges to motorists covering – or nearly covering – the full cost of highway construction and maintenance.

They are wrong.

Highways do not – and, except for brief periods in our nation’s history – never have paid for themselves through the taxes that highway advocates label “user fees.”


Highways don’t pay for themselves.

Since 1947, the amount of money spent on highways, roads and streets has exceeded the amount raised through gasoline taxes and other so-called “user fees” by $600 billion (2005 dollars), representing a massive transfer of general government funds to highways.

Highways “pay for themselves” less today than ever. Currently, highway “user fees” pay only about half the cost of building and maintaining the nation’s network of highways, roads and streets.


Do Roads Pay for Themselves? | Frontier Group

 

[Dad2three]

But they stand to gain by tacking on another 15 cents to their gas prices that will never actually be used to pay for the roads. Once again, you're a ******* genius.

Who is 'they?'

btw; Ford took bailout monies.

No Ford didn't, they were forced to but didn't need or want it. Another talking point you have no real answer for other than your pathetic ramblings on this board.

THEY is the consumer. They get to pay not only higher prices for products with a fuel tax increase but they actually get to pay even more for their own transportation. It's like being fucked over twice. Well there's actually a third screwing coming. The extra money will never get to the roads. It will get sucked up into the government cesspool of incompetence and your car will be going down the road like it's on a pot hole ridden slot car track.

Nice job moron. You have perfected the trifecta of ******* the average person.

OK, Ford didn’t file bankruptcy or get bailed out by Uncle Sam, but didn’t it receive $5.9 billion in low-cost government loans in 2009 to overhaul its factories and bring out more fuel-efficient technology? What would have happened to Ford if Congress hadn’t authorized taxpayer money to fund that $25 billion Energy Department program during a moment of crisis for the industry?

It’s hard to say, of course, but the fact is, with the aid of that taxpayer loan and a well-timed bank loan of $23 billion, Ford managed to tiptoe past the graveyard and avoid bankruptcy. Since then, it has run its business well and reduced its debt from $33.6 billion to $12.2 billion.


Ford Looks Hypocritical In New Anti-Bailout Commercial - Forbes





Ford's Bailout Proposal

Ford requested a $9 billion line-of-credit from the government, and a $5 billion loan from the Energy Department. It pledged to accelerate development of both hybrid and battery-powered vehicles, retool plants to increase production of smaller cars, close dealerships, and sell Volvo. Ford is in better shape than the other two because it had already mortgaged its assets in 2006 to raise $24.5 billion. Although Ford didn't need, and didn't receive any funds, it also didn't want its competition to get the upper hand thanks to the government bailout.

Government Bailout of Ford GM Chrysler and the Auto Industry

 

[HelenaHandbag]

Can't read huh?

Of course the tax revenues are including from trucking

I read fine. No mention of commercial trucking revenues.

THERE ARE LINKS, IT'S A STUDY, Of course trucking revenues are considered part of gas taxes *sheesh*

https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/pubs/hf/pl11028/chapter6.cfm

I read the linked story, buib. I am not going to play chase the links, especially when all you link to are partisan leftist sources.

All you have done here is show that America does not pay the exorbitant fuel taxes that Europeans do. Thing is that the fuel taxes in European countries go toward all sorts of things that are not related to road building and maintenance. America has the same problem, only to a lesser extent.

To repeat, once you get all the taxes collected going to roads and bridges, rather than funneling them into pet progressive mass transit boondoggles, then you can complain. Until then, quit your whining and begging.

 

[whitehall]

I guess ABC executives only travel by air and their low information minions don't travel at all. In the last couple of years the biggest problem on the interstates is freaking construction. Infrastructure repair is ongoing and constant. The freaking city of San Fran authorized 75 million for a net to catch depressed Californians when they jump off the Golden Gate. When the administration is in trouble you can depend on their propaganda arm in the media to create a fake crisis that they can blame on the republican majority in congress.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

BUT tax cuts bring in more revenues right? *shaking head*

Yes actually that's exactly how it works. The more you tax the less of that something you will be selling.

Something you aren't comprehending in your little chart in this thread is that yes the cost of ownership of a vehicle is very high in europe. But that doesn't result in people getting better roads for their awesome new cars. They run around in crap cars or mopeds. You know why? Because the average person can't afford a real car in europe. They have been taxed out of being able to afford decent transportation.

If you shake your head hard enough maybe the cob webs will fall out. And then you can do something to make sure your three kids actually get to live better than the european's.

Bush CEA Chair Mankiw: Claim That Broad-Based Income Tax Cuts Increase Revenue Is Not "Credible," Capital Income Tax Cuts Also Don't Pay For Themselves

Bush-Appointed Federal Reserve Chair Bernanke: "I Don't Think That As A General Rule Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."


Bush Treasury Secretary Paulson: "As A General Rule, I Don't Believe That Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."

Bush OMB Director Nussle: "Some Say That [The Tax Cut] Was A Total Loss. Some Say They Totally Pay For Themselves. It's Neither Extreme."


Bush CEA Chairman Lazear: "As A General Rule, We Do Not Think Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."


Bush Economic Adviser Viard: "Federal Revenue Is Lower Today Than It Would Have Been Without The Tax Cuts."


Bush Treasury Official Carroll: "We Do Not Think Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."


Reagan Chief Economist Feldstein: "It's Not That You Get More Revenue By Lowering Tax Rates, It Is That You Don't Lose As Much."

Feldstein In 1986: "Hyperbole" That Reagan Tax Cut "Would Actually Increase Tax Revenue."

Conservative Economist Holtz-Eakin: "No Serious Research Evidence" Suggests Tax Cuts Pay For Themselves."

Tax Foundation's Prante: "A Stretch" To Claim "Cutting Capital Gains Taxes Raises Tax Revenues."




Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950


Federal, state and local income taxes consumed 9.2% of all personal income in 2009, the lowest rate since 1950

Tax bills in 2009 at lowest level since 1950 - USATODAY.com

Since none of your links worked but one I guess I will address that one and put it on you to figure out how to post a link properly. Although I'm certain you can't because you copied and pasted someone else's failure of research.

"Some conservative political movements such as the "Tea Party" have criticized federal spending as being out of control. While spending is up, taxes have fallen to exceptionally low levels."

Fed spending is out of control. Taxes fell a bit. gee thanks but this article from 2010 is trying to excuse son of stimulus by then as being needed. Nowhere did the actual spending drop to an exceptable level. Isn't this also about the time we all got butt fucked with obiecare?

'Individual tax rates vary widely based on how much a taxpayer earns, where the person lives and other factors. On average, though, the tax rate paid by all Americans — rich and poor, combined — has fallen 26% since the recession began in 2007. That means a $3,400 annual tax savings for a household paying the average national rate and earning the average national household income of $102,000.

This tax drop has boosted consumer spending and the economy, which grew at a 3.2% annual rate in the first quarter. It also has contributed to the federal debt growing to $8.4 trillion'

Kind of funny how those numbers today would be much better than what we have to live with now. But they surely are a historical perspective of what will happen if the government keeps doing the same stupid shit over and over again like you are asking for.

Those very policies have caused the situation we are in today. The people that had jobs and were paying less taxes no longer have those jobs. The payday came and took them away.

The economy grew at 3.2% today we have -2%.

The debt is the only thing steady here. It is now not an astonishing 8.4 trillion but an ungodly 18 trillion.

Yet you still want all in at trying this again without the tax cuts. The only thing that kept the economy moving. And worse yet you want to do it with more taxes and even more government spending.

 

[Wyatt earp]

How about the government using the gasoline taxes that we already pay to maintain roads and bridges to actually maintain roads and bridges?

Do Roads Pay for Themselves?:
Setting the Record Straight on Transportation Funding

Highway advocates often claim that roads “pay for themselves,” with gasoline taxes and other charges to motorists covering – or nearly covering – the full cost of highway construction and maintenance.

They are wrong.

Highways do not – and, except for brief periods in our nation’s history – never have paid for themselves through the taxes that highway advocates label “user fees.”


Highways don’t pay for themselves.

Since 1947, the amount of money spent on highways, roads and streets has exceeded the amount raised through gasoline taxes and other so-called “user fees” by $600 billion (2005 dollars), representing a massive transfer of general government funds to highways.

Highways “pay for themselves” less today than ever. Currently, highway “user fees” pay only about half the cost of building and maintaining the nation’s network of highways, roads and streets.


Do Roads Pay for Themselves? | Frontier Group

they were never designed
to ike built the interstate for military runways and to ship troops coast to coast

 

[Missouri_Mike]

Who is 'they?'

btw; Ford took bailout monies.

No Ford didn't, they were forced to but didn't need or want it. Another talking point you have no real answer for other than your pathetic ramblings on this board.

THEY is the consumer. They get to pay not only higher prices for products with a fuel tax increase but they actually get to pay even more for their own transportation. It's like being fucked over twice. Well there's actually a third screwing coming. The extra money will never get to the roads. It will get sucked up into the government cesspool of incompetence and your car will be going down the road like it's on a pot hole ridden slot car track.

Nice job moron. You have perfected the trifecta of ******* the average person.

OK, Ford didn’t file bankruptcy or get bailed out by Uncle Sam, but didn’t it receive $5.9 billion in low-cost government loans in 2009 to overhaul its factories and bring out more fuel-efficient technology? What would have happened to Ford if Congress hadn’t authorized taxpayer money to fund that $25 billion Energy Department program during a moment of crisis for the industry?

It’s hard to say, of course, but the fact is, with the aid of that taxpayer loan and a well-timed bank loan of $23 billion, Ford managed to tiptoe past the graveyard and avoid bankruptcy. Since then, it has run its business well and reduced its debt from $33.6 billion to $12.2 billion.


Ford Looks Hypocritical In New Anti-Bailout Commercial - Forbes





Ford's Bailout Proposal

Ford requested a $9 billion line-of-credit from the government, and a $5 billion loan from the Energy Department. It pledged to accelerate development of both hybrid and battery-powered vehicles, retool plants to increase production of smaller cars, close dealerships, and sell Volvo. Ford is in better shape than the other two because it had already mortgaged its assets in 2006 to raise $24.5 billion. Although Ford didn't need, and didn't receive any funds, it also didn't want its competition to get the upper hand thanks to the government bailout.

Government Bailout of Ford GM Chrysler and the Auto Industry

And there you go. They kept the door open because the government decided to get into the auto business and help the competition.

Your rant is done.

 

[Papageorgio]

But many Republicans say they'd rather offset increases in transportation spending with cuts to other government programs rather than tax increases.

This is good.

Instead, Obama is pushing a plan to close tax loopholes and use the revenue to pay for increased transportation spending for the next four years.

This is bad.

This is not going to fly. No one is saying to increase spending. The 18 cents per gallon has been in place for 20 years. There has been NO INCREASE. Now the GOP and the Baggers are dead set against an increase.....basically because they can't see past the end of their noses.

So even the meager highway funding in place now is running out. You will see crumbling bridges, more potholes, and more long lines. The road projects you see going on now will end. But you RWers will enjoy it.

IT IS THE REPUBLICAN WAY!

You know....your platform has been and will always be, "Party over Country!"

There has been lots of state increases, where does all the money go? State, local and federal taxes levied against fuel and now the US average fuel tax of 49.5 cents (cpg) per gallon for gas and 54.6 cents per gallon (cpg) for diesel.

So it is really not 18.4 cents a gallon, it is a lot more and we see it squandered, cut other programs and create the construction jobs and get rid of prevailing wage, then we can see real progress.

 

[JimH52]

We already have registration fees, licensing fees, gasoline taxes, highway taxes all of which prorate against driver usage and should be more than enough to cover repairs and construction as they were intended. What has happened is democrats have raided those funds and wasted them on welfare, etc., and now want to extort more money. Remove all democrats and career republicans.

What happened is fuel consumption plummeted & repair cost increase. We have been subsidizing the highway system from the SS Trust Fund for too long now. It's time it paid it's own way.

AND the 18 cents a gallon has not increased in 20 years. That means that though the dot com boom, the inflation, and the years of milk and honey, the rate has stayed the same. It probably should be at least doubled to stay close to real construction costs. But now that the RW loons and the Baggers refuse to raise one cent of a tax rate, we are screwed.

In my community I can see a number of highway construction projects that are federally funded which will stop dead.

 

[Missouri_Mike]

We already have registration fees, licensing fees, gasoline taxes, highway taxes all of which prorate against driver usage and should be more than enough to cover repairs and construction as they were intended. What has happened is democrats have raided those funds and wasted them on welfare, etc., and now want to extort more money. Remove all democrats and career republicans.

What happened is fuel consumption plummeted & repair cost increase. We have been subsidizing the highway system from the SS Trust Fund for too long now. It's time it paid it's own way.

AND the 18 cents a gallon has not increased in 20 years. That means that though the dot com boom, the inflation, and the years of milk and honey, the rate has stayed the same. It probably should be at least doubled to stay close to real construction costs. But now that the RW loons and the Baggers refuse to raise one cent of a tax rate, we are screwed.

In my community I can see a number of highway construction projects that are federally funded which will stop dead.

So shouldn't your highways be taken care of by your state instead of the feds? Because I don't personally give a **** about your roads, they are your problem and the games the feds make you play to get the money is pathetic.

Raise your tax rate all you want. I don't feel the need to pay more for your problems. Raise your state taxes all you want. Leave the rest of us out of your problems.