Gasoline Tax

State legislature must put trust back in Transportation Trust Fund Governor Martin O'Malley's Blue Ribbon Commission on Transportation Funding has recommended significantly increasing the gasoline tax and doubling vehicle registration and inspection fees - an impact of more than $900 million per year. While I agree we need to improve our congested and deteriorating roads, I strongly disagree that raising the gas tax should be the first order of business. Passing a constitutional amendment to put the "trust" back in the Transportation Trust Fund should be the first item on the legislature's agenda when the General Assembly convenes in January.

Years ago, politicians in Annapolis instituted a gasoline tax and dedicated the proceeds to transportation and roads infrastructure. There were even safeguards in place to ensure that the money was spent only for such projects. But over the years the politicians flouted their own laws and the transportation fund was raided to balance the budget. The transportation system and roads suffered as a result. Now the politicians in Annapolis are proposing a significant raise in the gas tax - and once again it's with the sole stated purpose of using the money for transportation infrastructure.

Gov. Martin O'Malley signaled Monday that he might support an increase in Maryland's gasoline tax as part of a broader effort to create jobs through a massive construction program focused on transportation and schools. In response to questions at a State House news conference, O'Malley said flatly that he favors raising more revenue — but didn't specify how. He would not rule out backing a blue-ribbon commission's recommendation that the state raise its 23.5-cents-per-gallon gas tax by 15 cents.

A gas tax increase is uncalled for and will create an unnecessary burden on Maryland citizens who are already overtaxed as it is. The proposed 15-cent a gallon tax hike will spell disaster for those who depend on their cars to get around. Here are three things the state could do instead to balance its budgets: First, close the day labor centers that help illegal immigrants find work and that serve of no good purpose for the state. Second, stop giving in-state tuition rates to these same Illegal Immigrants; that's nothing but a waste of good money thrown after bad. Finally, under no circumstances should the gasoline tax be increased by as much as 1 cent.

It is no secret the Maryland Senate is considering a batch of new taxes, including a gasoline tax. But how can a group of highly educated people think it's a good idea to raise any kind of tax at a time when the economy is in the tank, unemployment is skyrocketing and more Americans than ever are living in poverty? I just don't get it. Our state's leaders must understand that Marylanders are being squeezed to death. The well has dried up. Sure, we've heard politicians say tough decisions have to be made during times like these.

Your editorial advocating tax increases to fix Annapolis' job-killing spending problem once again misses the mark ("Tax increases should be on the table," Aug. 23). Government's insistence on uncontrolled, unsustainable spending has saddled future generations of Americans with record debt. Believing that significant cuts are not immediately needed is both naive and unwise. Maryland's revenues have not kept pace with the growth of the state budget, forcing elected officials to scramble to cover billion dollar-plus deficits.

At the Petro gas station on York Road in Timonium, a gallon of unleaded was quoted at $3.91 last week. Four blocks south, near Ridgely Road, that same gallon of gasoline cost $4.05 at the Citgo. Despite the 14-cent difference, both stations appeared to be doing well, attracting a steady pace of motorists. That's hardly a shock. After all, 14 cents is little more than 3 percent, or half the state's sales tax. And other service stations on York Road in Timonium reflected a range of prices, with most falling somewhere between Petro's and Citgo's.

Misty Sexton writes a nice letter ( "Consumers can afford a 10-cent gas tax increase, but many businesses can't," March 17) stating several examples of increased operating expenses for business owners caused by a 10-cent a gasoline tax increase. I have no reason to believe her examples are not accurate. She does however, fail to point out how these increases negatively affect the businesses she gives as examples. It may make the business less profitable, assuming the company does not pass the increase on, as most probably will (and thus have no effect on their bottom line)

As my car bounces and rattles over yet another pothole, and I look up at the price of a gallon of regular gasoline — about $3.30 — I have the following question: Is anybody ticked off about this? We were paying about $2.70 a year ago. I mean, I understand there has been unrest in North Africa and the Middle East, and this time there's something seismic going on. But when the price at the pump goes up like this, I don't believe it's because of anything real, such as a drop in the production of crude in Libya.

How much proof do the citizens of Maryland need that our legislators are out of touch with reality? At a time when gas prices are rising 10 cents to 20 cents per gallon per week, we hear that the state legislature is thinking about raising Maryland's gas tax. Why not kick us when we are down? Year after year the legislature has demonstrated fiscal irresponsibility by assuming that the economy is going to always function at a high level and increasing spending accordingly. Local jurisdictions should have anticipated an economic slowdown and planned for their infrastructure needs, but what do they do?