Hundreds of millions of dollars have been taken out of Maryland's transportation trust fund over the years. In fact, once again this year hundreds of millions of dollars have again been taken out of this and other trust funds and placed into the state's general fund. It is like taking money from your right pocket and putting it into your left pocket because the left pocket was running out of money. And yes, gas stations will always have customers even if the price at one gas station was a little bit more.
But it seems that those who call for a gas tax increase and a vehicle registration fee increase are missing the point ("A dime's worth of difference," May 23). Oh, and they can argue all they want about big oil companies making massive sums of profit off of these oil prices. What this article neglects to admit is that those Middle Eastern nations who produce massive amounts of oil only charge 20 cents a gallon in their own country. The problem with gas prices is that we don't produce enough of our own and the same people who want to increase the gas tax are the same people who won't let us do just that. The problem with this article's argument is that it is not just a 10 cents increase on the gas tax, it's a fluctuating 100 percent increase.
Yes, 100 percent. A recently failed bill that works in conjunction with the 10 cent increase calls for a 4 percent sales tax, which means that depending on the cost of fuel per dollar, there will be 4 cents added on per dollar. They can cry or argue all they want about there not being enough money in the trust fund's coffers, but increasing taxes is not the way to put more money in there at least after the first year. People have to commute, and they have to get to work, but if the costs go too high, they will find another way. Maryland is a struggling economy, and every avenue of revenue is shrinking, which means the transportation trust fund is also shrinking. The solution is actually to lower all taxes, especially those that hurt every Marylander, and the gas tax is a prime example. This will give people more of the ability to purchase vehicles, i.e., more revenue.
Contrary to traditional liberal tone in regard to taxes and fees that are progressive, intended to make those who succeed pay more, these taxes at their core are regressive, hurting the poorest and middle-class Marylanders the hardest. These are all policy attempts to balance an overspent budget and control an individual's decision making, which do nothing more than cripple an already fledgling economy. These taxes do not encourage an individual to own a home, drive to work, or spend as they see fit. If you've been to the grocery store recently you can see the direct effect of high gas prices, which in effect, encourage individuals to find another way to get there so they can actually afford to buy them.
Charles J. Lollar
The writer is Maryland State Director of Americans for Prosperity.