State lawmakers unanimously approved a $300 million per year transportation package funded through the increase in gas tax, registration, title and license plate fees, which will mean that the typical Oregon household will pay an additional $121.50 per year or an average of $10 per month extra.
"The costs for the public are not that big," said state Rep. Terry Beyer, a Springfield Democrat and one of the plan's chief architects. But "the benefits for the public are immense."
the money would be divided up so that the counties will receive just under $82 million and the cities just under $55 million. They'll have discretion on how to use the money (yeah, more bike paths and other pet projects) although, it will all go back into transportation in some form or another.
"These jobs are also going to show up in some of the hardest-hit parts of Oregon," said Senate President Peter Courtney at a press conference before the vote. "We're just moments away from a remarkable time in which we will define ourselves as a state legislature."
"This is a transportation package that doesn't grow government," said Sen. Bruce Starr, R-Hillsboro. "These are tax increases that don't grow government. These are tax increases that grow the economy."
"The Republican Party will take a real, hard look at it, but I think the bottom line is it sounds like a mistake to me," Bob Tiernan, chairman of the state's Republican Party said after the committee vote. "I think it's inappropriate. It's the wrong time to raise any taxes."
it looks like Bob Tiernan is the only one that has a head on his shoulders.
Yes, $10 a month may not seem like much to some people, but it's a lot of money to me.
I know someone who's been out of work for over a year and their unemployment has ran out, so as a result, they also lost their home.
We need to start putting money back into this economy not into the hands of the government.
and if we don't start getting our priorities straight now, things are only going to get worse.
AND ADDING MORE TAXES AND MAKING THE COST OF LIVING MORE COSTLY IS NOT THE SOLUTION!
2 comments:
I agree. Bob Tiernan is the only one of the quoted spokesmen who understands that giving more money to government is taking more money from private accounts.
And just how is this good?
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We are going to need to fund these transportation upgrades in order to make it more convenient for Oregonians and businesses to leave the state in search of a state that realizes the value of it's citizen's entrepreneurial spirit rather than seeing it as just a cash cow.
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