Bass fishing in PA

[zelmo]

Get ready to bend over and spread them. Wolf is proposing to eliminate the gasoline tax. While that may seem to be good news they have determined that as high as it is it doesn't bring in enough money and they need to find other ways to raise money.

Notice there is no mention of cutting spending, just raising more money. Instead they are considering all options to put more money in the coffers. This won't end well.

Well, they had a meeting to make a laundry list of new taxes and fees. Here are some of the ideas:

• Doubling the state’s vehicle registration fee could generate between $750 million to $1.5 billion;
• A vehicle sales tax of 1.93% to 2.14% could generate $450 million to $500 million;
• An electric car fee of $150 to $200 could generate $5.5 million to $9.2 million;
• A mileage-based user fee that charges 3.16 cents per mile, which was said to be the equivalent of the current gas tax, up to 7 cents a mile could generate $3.8 billion to $8.4 billion;
• Statewide tolling of interstates, which currently the federal government does not allow, could generate $1.8 billion to $2 billion; and
• Congestion pricing – a toll charged to use major roadways during rush hours – in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Allentown could generate $525 million to $900 million.

Not only are they not considering cutting spending but they also asked how much more money they should spend. They came up with an additional $5.3 billion. Gotta love the politicians.

On another note PennDot seems perplexed that there is blow back to the idea of tolling the bridges. They claim motorists will save money because they won't be burning gas while sitting in traffic. Talk about spin.

[bassfisher444]

The electric car fee sounds like the best idea.

[zelmo]

The electric car fee sounds like the best idea.

They will do all of them and more that they haven't thought of yet.

[scotty34]

They have come to the conclusion turnpike fees and gas tax isnt working so get ready for another usage tax of some sorts . My guess you will get billed per year at inspection /emmision time since your vehicle gets plugged in directly to the state. Just a guess, that way they hit the electrics harder since there not getting enough off the fuel side.

[zelmo]

My guess you will get billed per year at inspection /emmision time since your vehicle gets plugged in directly to the state.

In that scenario there will be one big bill that many will not have the funds to pay. I guess they will need another transfer program to pay it for them.