https://texasscorecard.com/state/democrat-state-senator-files-legislation-to-raise-state-gas-tax/

Motor Fuels Taxes in a Changing Texas Transportation Scene
Texas hasn't raised the fuel tax since 1991, while "[a]ccording to 2016 testimony from the TTI, due to rapid inflation the 20-cent motor fuels tax 'now purchases less than 10 cents' worth of construction'". I'm sure that disparity is much greater now.

swampdog01 said:

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Tell ya what. Make all EVs pay a $300 annual highway fee, and I will be ok with raising the gas tax a nickel or so

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I'll go $75 per 1,000 lbs or fraction thereof, in GVW.

That's ez move to cali

From CNET article

https://www.cnet.com/google-amp/news/americas-new-weight-problem-electric-cars/

Vehicle snip comparisons - unintended consequences

- A Tesla Model 3 Performance with AWD weighs 4,065 pounds -- 379 pounds more than a BMW 330i XDrive.
- A Tesla Model S Long Range weighs 4,560 pounds -- 510 pounds more than a BMW 540i XDrive, which is no lightweight.
- A Chevy Bolt weighs 3,563 pounds -- a huge 829 pounds more than a Nissan Kicks.
- the Ford F-150 Lightning, Hummer EV and electric Chevrolet Silverado. An F-150 Lightning's battery alone weighs around 1,800 pounds, leading to a truck that weighs about 1,000 pounds more than the gas-engine version

Road noise (Tire):
About 45 million people in the US either live, work or go to school within 300 feet of a freeway, according to research by acoustic engineers Judy Roachat and Darlene Reiter. Most of the noise endured near freeways is caused by tire contact with the pavement, not roaring engines and exhaust pipes.

Truck towing capacity
Fortunately, electric pickups have prodigious towing capacities to make up for that, but they may suffer when it comes to towing over long distances as that heavy battery becomes useless dead weight as it expends its charge.

Not from the CNET article, but another issue that is flaring in the tire business is micro plastics/rubber. This is the rubber that comes off the tire with each use. This is a HUGE environmental issue. With the heavier weights of the EVs, more micro plastics are being generated. - so far have not seen this touched. My guess is it is a taboo topic just like the wind mills killing million of birds and bats.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jul/25/tyre-dust-the-stealth-pollutant-becoming-a-huge-threat-to-ocean-life

Human bird and bat deaths are being underreported at a significant rate when using only human collected data. Dogs are being evaluated as a search tool, but it is not mainstream so far.

swampdog01 said:

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Tell ya what. Make all EVs pay a $300 annual highway fee, and I will be ok with raising the gas tax a nickel or so

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At some point, you probably get the luxury of paying both. That annual highway fee has already been approved and just waiting on the mechanism to implement it.

And then if you still drive an ICE it's probably a good bet you will still pay a gas tax on top of it as an incentive to force you away from ICE.

Ag87H2O said:

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Add this to your checklist of reasons Texans should never vote for a Democrat. They would turn Texas into California within 5 years.

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I would give them two.

EVs are a long way from being able to replace the towing (both weight AND range) of my diesel. I know they can tow high numbers, but they cant sustain it without a charge. Until they can im not interested.

... the gas tax does need to be raised.

Predmid said:

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... the gas tax does need to be raised.

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What percentage of your income is not ok to be taxed?

Saltwater Assassin said:

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EVs are a long way from being able to replace the towing (both weight AND range) of my diesel. I know they can tow high numbers, but they cant sustain it without a charge. Until they can im not interested.

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Same. Love my Tesla as a daily commuter and trips to A&M games but I have a diesel truck to tow a bay boat and travel trailer. Right tools, right job.

aggiepanic95 said:

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Predmid said:

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... the gas tax does need to be raised.

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Wrong. Exactly no taxes need to be raised. Government spending needs to be slashed and its size greatly reduced.

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F'n A, dude.

Dog searching is TOO efficient.

Look up the studies for bird strikes at wind energy facilities and human V dog searching efficiency.

aggiepanic95 said:

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Predmid said:

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... the gas tax does need to be raised.

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Wrong. Exactly no taxes need to be raised. Government spending needs to be slashed and its size greatly reduced.

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And how do you propose to pay for the ridiculous amount of highway work that needs so be done, not only in Texas, but nationwide?

Slicer97 said:

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B-1 83 said:

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aggiepanic95 said:

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Predmid said:

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... the gas tax does need to be raised.

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Wrong. Exactly no taxes need to be raised. Government spending needs to be slashed and its size greatly reduced.

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And how do you propose to pay for the ridiculous amount of highway work that needs so be done, not only in Texas, but nationwide?

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Cut senseless gubmint spending programs and redirect those funds to something useful.

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While I sympathize with the argument that too much of the gas tax is being diverted to stuff other than highway construction, the argument that we should take tax revenue from other sources and use it to build roads is not very sensible. Roads should pay their own way -- that's always been the idea behind a gas tax, not that drivers should get a free ride from other taxpayers.

So, while I don't want my gas tax money being used to fund rapid transit vanity projects in the cities, I would understand if they raised the gas tax to keep it in line with today's costs, so long as they also find a way to tax EV's and get them to carry their share of the load.

aggiepanic95 said:

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Predmid said:

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... the gas tax does need to be raised.

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Wrong. Exactly no taxes need to be raised. Government spending needs to be slashed and its size greatly reduced.

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I like this guy!

Agreed. There's definitely some fat that can be trimmed off of the defense budget.

That's two separate issues. Infrastructure spending on a constitutionally mandated responsibility of the government is generally good.

All the social welfare programs and foreign aid shenanigans are bad. One can be FOR appropriate transportation funding and against other taxes.


And we do need to raise gas taxes. Doubling is extreme.

twk said:

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Slicer97 said:

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B-1 83 said:

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aggiepanic95 said:

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Predmid said:

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... the gas tax does need to be raised.

---

Wrong. Exactly no taxes need to be raised. Government spending needs to be slashed and its size greatly reduced.

---

And how do you propose to pay for the ridiculous amount of highway work that needs so be done, not only in Texas, but nationwide?

---

Cut senseless gubmint spending programs and redirect those funds to something useful.

---

While I sympathize with the argument that too much of the gas tax is being diverted to stuff other than highway construction, the argument that we should take tax revenue from other sources and use it to build roads is not very sensible. Roads should pay their own way -- that's always been the idea behind a gas tax, not that drivers should get a free ride from other taxpayers.

So, while I don't want my gas tax money being used to fund rapid transit vanity projects in the cities, I would understand if they raised the gas tax to keep it in line with today's costs, so long as they also find a way to tax EV's and get them to carry their share of the load.

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Quit the bolded crap 1st... then MAYBE we can talk about an increase in gas tax to keep new highways from all being toll roads. Make the mass transit projects pay for themselves, not roadway construction.

Of all the taxes that exist, the gas tax is one of the more fair systems. The more you drive, the more gas you buy the more in road taxes you pay.


It is quite elegant in that regard.

As to your question "what percentage of your labor should be taxed".

Labor shouldn't be taxed. Consumption and possibly value added should. Gas tax is a consumption tax. Sales tax is a consumption tax.

C@LAg said:

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awww. it is so cute when they think they have any power.

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Tell me you dont understand the Lege without telling me you dont understand the Lege.

DrEvazanPhD said:

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aggiepanic95 said:

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Predmid said:

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... the gas tax does need to be raised.

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Wrong. Exactly no taxes need to be raised. Government spending needs to be slashed and its size greatly reduced.

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Or in the case of the gas tax, actually used for what it was originally intended for, not part of a general slush fund

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This was going to be my question. Does 100% of the gas tax go to highway construction/TXDOT? If so, I would be in favor of raising it since, as noted, it hasn't tracked with inflation.

If it goes into the General Fund? Hard pass.

dead said:

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Agreed. There's definitely some fat that can be trimmed off of the defense budget.

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The state of Texas has a defense budget? Tell us more.

Predmid said:

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Of all the taxes that exist, the gas tax is one of the more fair systems. The more you drive, the more gas you buy the more in road taxes you pay.


It is quite elegant in that regard.

As to your question "what percentage of your labor should be taxed".

Labor shouldn't be taxed. Consumption and possibly value added should. Gas tax is a consumption tax. Sales tax is a consumption tax.

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If anything, we should raise the rates on truckers as their trucks do way way more damage to the roads than cars.

twk said:

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Slicer97 said:

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B-1 83 said:

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aggiepanic95 said:

---

Predmid said:

---

... the gas tax does need to be raised.

---

Wrong. Exactly no taxes need to be raised. Government spending needs to be slashed and its size greatly reduced.

---

And how do you propose to pay for the ridiculous amount of highway work that needs so be done, not only in Texas, but nationwide?

---

Cut senseless gubmint spending programs and redirect those funds to something useful.

---

While I sympathize with the argument that too much of the gas tax is being diverted to stuff other than highway construction, the argument that we should take tax revenue from other sources and use it to build roads is not very sensible. Roads should pay their own way -- that's always been the idea behind a gas tax, not that drivers should get a free ride from other taxpayers.

So, while I don't want my gas tax money being used to fund rapid transit vanity projects in the cities, I would understand if they raised the gas tax to keep it in line with today's costs, so long as they also find a way to tax EV's and get them to carry their share of the load.

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Now do schools for those that don't have kids.

Quote:

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If it goes into the General Fund? Hard pass.

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Since Democrats are involved in this discussion, you know very well this tax increase will go to fund some queer crap, a give-away to some America hating group, or anywhere other than roads.

They need more $$$ taxed to build toll roads.