Former Michigan lawmakers are pushing the state’s governor to implement what would be the most expensive gas tax in the U.S.
The Michigan Consensus Policy Project, led by a bi-partisan coalition of ex-lawmakers, is calling for the state to enact what would ultimately be a 47-cents-per-gallon tax to fund road and bridge repairs.
The proposal would raise Michigan’s gas tax by five cents annually for nine years, including another two-cent tax in the first year.
The proposal would be in addition to Michigan’s current gas tax, which is set at 26.3 cents per gallon. If implemented, the total tax would top at 73.3 cents in nine years’ time — making it the highest rate in the country.
Bob Emerson — a former Democratic state Senate minority leader and one of the backers of the campaign — said the gas tax is the best approach to funding Michigan roads because it “closely correlates to the amount of driving people do,” according to The Detroit News.
Average families in Michigan would see a considerable cut in the take-home pay if the tax is implemented, with middle-income, two-vehicle households estimated to pay an extra $400-plus a year under the plan.
“There’s no question there’s a need and no question about the importance of this,” said Ken Sikkema, a former GOP state Senate Majority Leader, explaining the need to fix Michigan’s roads and bridges. “It’s our hope that this proposal jump starts that important conversation.”
The goal of The Michigan Consensus Project is to push Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the state’s Republican-led legislature to enact the 47-cent gas tax increase, which is estimated to generate upwards of $2.7 billion a year in extra revenue for the state’s transportation system.
The campaign comes as Whitmer is expected to unveil her first budget presentation in March. The New Democratic governor, while she hasn’t yet voiced support for the proposal, has expressed strong interest to “fix the damn roads” in Michigan.
Beyond the unlikeliness of such an exorbitant tax making it through the GOP-controlled legislature in Michigan, energy taxes have proven to be unpopular at a national and international level.
Voters in Washington State, for example, soundly rejected a carbon tax proposal in November for the second time. It was the second time voters in the deep blue state voted against implementing a tax on carbon emissions.
Across the Atlantic, French protesters have rioted over President Emmanuel Macron’s attempt to raise gas and diesel taxes. The backlash ultimately forced Macros to withdraw the proposal altogether.
Read more at Daily Caller
Once upon a time, fuel taxes funded roads. Now they’re general revenue.
If the money actually gets spent fixing roads, it’s not a carbon tax.
There’s a couple of potholes in my road that I fill in myself. Then I don’t have to listen to vehicles being tortured by the county’s neglect. I doubt that this will catch on, but that’s how it used to get done.
More stupid taxes just to pay for some dumb pet project like Bike Lanes Mass Transit Electric Cars and recharge Stations where you have to wait hours for the battery to recharge These liberals are always coming up with some dumb ideas
Tax anything for what ?
During a wartime economy it might be necessary
to curb inflation.
It is not necessary at all now………………….because
ALL
Important economic entities in the world operate thru
FIAT currency
and that will never change because all important entities are
so deeply in bookkeeping debt that they can NEVER payoff
ALL OF THEM
Therefor the National Debt is a Fiction
Therefor ALL attempts by the smellocrats to raise taxes
Are nothing but attempts by them to
DESTROY the middle class
The hated ” bougeouise ”
so they can create a socialist ( COMMUNIST ) state.
This was set up to happen during the
Wilson administration
Aggravated, most particularly,
to destroy the middle class by the
Roosevelt administration
And the smellocrats have never stopped
Any middle class person who thinks the
liberals, democrats, socialists
are on their side
is just as stupid as these disguised communists
think they are
Americans WAKE UP
You are about to lose your country
You are about to lose ALL your property
You are about to lose ALL constitutional rights
AND WHY
Because a SMELLOCRAT says so
AND
The moslem pigs
Demand SO
If I was born in a libertarian land, I think that I would have done OK. But I was born in Canada, so I conform begrudgingly.
The principle of fiat currency is certainly being abused, because the G7 have agreed to abuse it equally. Some believe that the gold standard should be revived, but gold is a fiat commodity, like paper currency.
Better stock up on peanut butter and lantern fuel.
Better hide your guns and stock up
on a lifetime of ammunition
Our cars give us our Freedom and Independence we cant get from Mass Transit or with all the rediculous ideas from these Eco-wackos Politicians and Buricrats that’s why they want to take away our cars and force us int mass transit because they want to force us all into living in Beehive Apartments while they return thousands of acres of farm and ranch land back into wilderness set aside only for them and the wealthy providers and supporters
Their new tax proposal is called the “Michigan Consensus Policy Project,” but you can bet that there is no consensus among voters. Washington State is well known for the voters rejecting taxes on carbon dioxide emissions. It isn’t so well known the state legislature imposed a huge gas tax despite polls and advisory votes that clearly showed that the majority of voters apposed it.