Federal gas tax expiring in Sept.

[ugonow]

Could this be round two? Normaly this is pretty much a standard boring non issue that breezes through.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Really?

Guess the intelligent amongst us will no longer be able to say the federal treasury makes 2-3 times the profit that the oil companies make on a gallon of gas.

Bummer....

[deziloooooo]

To do away with any income raising elements at this time...hope not , but then again...

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Hey... for 2011, 2% of our SS contributions from our paychecks was reduced. Wonder what kind of hysteria will ensue come Jan 1, 2012, when all our paychecks will fall.

[floridayankee]

Aug 2, 2011 15:17:12 GMT -5 Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ said:

Really?

Guess the intelligent amongst us will no longer be able to say the federal treasury makes 2-3 times the profit that the oil companies make on a gallon of gas.

Bummer....

Don't sweat it SF. There is no way either party wants to let go of that cash cow. There may be a little grandstanding, but believe me, the tax will be renewed.

[ugonow]

Would it be considered raising taxes? Perhaps Super Congress will need to render a decision.....

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Don't sweat it SF. There is no way either party wants to let go of that cash cow. There may be a little grandstanding, but believe me, the tax will be renewed.

Yeah, interesting though that this tax falls heavily on the lower and middle classes who need to drive to work...and who also pay highway/bridge tolls. Unlike high income people who work from home.

[deziloooooo]

Aug 2, 2011 15:36:46 GMT -5 Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ said:

Don't sweat it SF. There is no way either party wants to let go of that cash cow. There may be a little grandstanding, but believe me, the tax will be renewed.

Yeah, interesting though that this tax falls heavily on the lower and middle classes who need to drive to work...and who also pay highway/bridge tolls. Unlike high income people who work from home.

Which means it's satisfying those folks who are upset that the lower income earners are not paying their fair share of Government expenses, getting a free ride so to speak on the backs of the more affluent..

Tea Party might be happy about keeping this tax on the books then, what cha think?

If so, would that be considered hypicriticle of them? Just asking..not that clear on Tea Party druthers..

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Much as I don't like taxes, I think user fees are the best kind. I like this tax- hope it stays on. I even think the % is about right. 18.4 cents a gallon is not much.

[Angel!]

I really think they need to change the tax so it is a percentage of the sales price or adjusts with inflation. The tax has remained unchanged in 14 years, but cars are far more fuel efficient & construction costs have sky-rocketed since then. Meaning they are collection less money per mile traveled & that money doesn't go as far in repairing roads & bridges, not good for the country's transportation infrastructure.

[deziloooooo]

Aug 2, 2011 17:08:33 GMT -5 Angel! said:

I really think they need to change the tax so it is a percentage of the sales price or adjusts with inflation. The tax has remained unchanged in 14 years, but cars are far more fuel efficient & construction costs have sky-rocketed since then. Meaning they are collection less money per mile traveled & that money doesn't go as far in repairing roads & bridges, not good for the country's transportation infrastructure.

Actually you bring up some good points..and if a sleight tax had to be levied, but don't forget..the states are hugh propounds of gas taxes too...some times way out of the norm..granted they are hurting now and probably looking to increase these taxes even more...so they do add up..

I know where I live, use to wiork in Boca Raton..Fla, and that town ALSO threw on a hugh tax, about 6/7 cents per, so made sure always if at all possible , not fill up there as i klived outside the area, was able to solve the problem but those who lived there and not a small community, to do so meant they had to drive a bit to get away from those costs..granted a very, very wealthy community, one of the wealthiest in the country, but still...

[look it up, you will see]

[henryclay]

SF said:

Hey... for 2011, 2% of our SS contributions from our paychecks was reduced. Wonder what kind of hysteria will ensue come Jan 1, 2012, when all our paychecks will fall.

That's a knee slapper par excellaunce. Next year is THE election year for Obama, one third of the Senate and the entire House or have you lost track? With the whupping the Democrats took last fall, is it your expectation that the reduction in FICA won't be extended when they take up the 2012 budget after their recess? They'll be back the first week in September and will have three weeks to get it done before the new fiscal years starts on October 1st. I'm betting there'll be at least one Continuing Resolution to keep the doors open and the budget won't be done by January 1st?

Except for the vote buying parts. THOSE will be chipped in stone right off. Wanna take that bet?

[Value Buy]

Aug 2, 2011 17:18:29 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

Aug 2, 2011 17:08:33 GMT -5 Angel! said:

I really think they need to change the tax so it is a percentage of the sales price or adjusts with inflation. The tax has remained unchanged in 14 years, but cars are far more fuel efficient & construction costs have sky-rocketed since then. Meaning they are collection less money per mile traveled & that money doesn't go as far in repairing roads & bridges, not good for the country's transportation infrastructure.

Actually you bring up some good points..and if a sleight tax had to be levied, but don't forget..the states are hugh propounds of gas taxes too...some times way out of the norm..granted they are hurting now and probably looking to increase these taxes even more...so they do add up..

I know where I live, use to wiork in Boca Raton..Fla, and that town ALSO threw on a hugh tax, about 6/7 cents per, so made sure always if at all possible , not fill up there as i klived outside the area, was able to solve the problem but those who lived there and not a small community, to do so meant they had to drive a bit to get away from those costs..granted a very, very wealthy community, one of the wealthiest in the country, but still...

[look it up, you will see]

Here is a really good example of someone on the left (a little to the left, by his own designation) who goes out of the way to not pay his fair share of taxes, but believes the wealthy should pay more.
Kind of like Kerry, who hid his expensive boat in another state to avoid his taxes.
Dezi should have been thrilled at filling up in the city, knowing he is financing their tax base so they may furnish their citizens the proper level of services their citizens expect......
Hypocrisy at it's finest.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Aug 2, 2011 17:08:33 GMT -5 Angel! said:

I really think they need to change the tax so it is a percentage of the sales price or adjusts with inflation. The tax has remained unchanged in 14 years, but cars are far more fuel efficient & construction costs have sky-rocketed since then. Meaning they are collection less money per mile traveled & that money doesn't go as far in repairing roads & bridges, not good for the country's transportation infrastructure.

Too big a conflict of interest if it becomes a percentage. Right now, government has every incentive to increase energy supply, drive down the price, and drive up more demand-- make it a % of a sale, we'll have $10 gasoline overnight.

And while cars are more efficient, we drive further- and we drive a lot more of them.

[formerexpat]

I really think they need to change the tax so it is a percentage of the sales price or adjusts with inflation. The tax has remained unchanged in 14 years, but cars are far more fuel efficient & construction costs have sky-rocketed since then. Meaning they are collection less money per mile traveled & that money doesn't go as far in repairing roads & bridges, not good for the country's transportation infrastructure.

Nearly 80% of XOM's profits before tax were paid to governments in the form of taxes, whether at the pump or federal income [based on the 2010 financials]. It has not been below 70% in at least the last 3 years. Do you really think these need increased?

Tolls have increased as a form of collecting revenues that go towards road repair. Like most everything else, the problem is that government does not segregate these funds and use them for the intended purpose. To make an analogy, they're the drunk person that drinks their money away and then wonders why there is no money left to pay the mortgage.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

I do think this is a tax we could actually RAISE, though-- again, it's a perfectly fair tax. Everyone pays the same amount, and everyone in proportion to their use. It could be a quarter a gallon.

[BeenThere...DoneThat...]

[deziloooooo]

Aug 2, 2011 22:44:38 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Aug 2, 2011 17:18:29 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

Actually you bring up some good points..and if a sleight tax had to be levied, but don't forget..the states are hugh propounds of gas taxes too...some times way out of the norm..granted they are hurting now and probably looking to increase these taxes even more...so they do add up..

I know where I live, use to wiork in Boca Raton..Fla, and that town ALSO threw on a hugh tax, about 6/7 cents per, so made sure always if at all possible , not fill up there as i klived outside the area, was able to solve the problem but those who lived there and not a small community, to do so meant they had to drive a bit to get away from those costs..granted a very, very wealthy community, one of the wealthiest in the country, but still...

[look it up, you will see]

Here is a really good example of someone on the left (a little to the left, by his own designation) who goes out of the way to not pay his fair share of taxes, but believes the wealthy should pay more.
Kind of like Kerry, who hid his expensive boat in another state to avoid his taxes.
Dezi should have been thrilled at filling up in the city, knowing he is financing their tax base so they may furnish their citizens the proper level of services their citizens expect......
Hypocrisy at it's finest.

Hypocracy to not paying a higher per gallon price for ones gas if one can do so...I would think it's the "American way "...finding the best deal to fill up.

In this case, the city involved itself, only one i know, who actually puts their own tax on gasoline, all others I am familier with , just the State and Federal do that..I don't find it , ability to not fill up there if possible, Hypocracy, just smart business if one can do so because thjey live in a different town where the Gas is so much cheaper..no problem any more, I am retired now so rarely go to that town anymore and when i do, it seems I enter it with plenty of gas in the tank..good planning actually ..

[cme1201]

Actually Dezi if you look here dor.myflorida.com/dor/tips/pdf/b05-02_chart.pdf you can see that almost every county in Florida for 2011 had a local county tax on fuel, most ranging at a rate of .13, in my county between state, county, and local our tax is .31 per gallon. In West Palm County where Boca is located you had a .35 tax.

[floridayankee]

Aug 2, 2011 23:53:47 GMT -5 deziloooooo said:

Hypocracy to not paying a higher per gallon price for ones gas if one can do so...I would think it's the "American way "...finding the best deal to fill up.

If it's the American way, why are the rich demonized and called greedy when they use any legal means to get the best deal?

Maybe those on the left don't consider "the rich" to be Americans?

[deziloooooo]

Aug 3, 2011 6:54:10 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

Actually Dezi if you look here dor.myflorida.com/dor/tips/pdf/b05-02_chart.pdf you can see that almost every county in Florida for 2011 had a local county tax on fuel, most ranging at a rate of .13, in my county between state, county, and local our tax is .31 per gallon. In West Palm County where Boca is located you had a .35 tax.

Ok didn't know that...only knew that in Margate the gas is quite a bit cheaper...have no idea what Broward cty has for a tax...I just knew it was not a penny or so difference..gas seemed to be $3.75 per this week..in fact my station, one I use was the same as a BP up the street that seems to always be at least 5 cents higher..

[cme1201]

Broward Counties tax rate is exactly the same as West Palm, stat and local taxes are .35, mostly the difference in prices that you see between one pump and another has more to do with floating stock than taxes.

Floating stock is the amount of gas purchased on a weekly loading basis, if I purchase 1500 gal last week at 3.0 and I do not use that entire stock I still must cover the expense that I paid to bring it in, if the following week I pay 2.93, I can stand to lower my price if my tanks are close to empty, or I must take a loss on what I purchased last week.

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

That's a knee slapper par excellaunce.

Hey Henry, I was just tossing that one out. Seems like many have forgotten about that one. I was against that particular tax reduction when it was being debated and voted on.

[ugonow]

Here is a really good example of someone on the left (a little to the left, by his own designation) who goes out of the way to not pay his fair share of taxes, but believes the wealthy should pay more.

The only fair way to solve this is to do away with the gas road taxes, and have a volunteer with a bucket ask for donations for the upkeep of the roads at every intersection ,on ramp, etc......

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Aug 3, 2011 6:54:10 GMT -5 cme1201 said:

Actually Dezi if you look here dor.myflorida.com/dor/tips/pdf/b05-02_chart.pdf you can see that almost every county in Florida for 2011 had a local county tax on fuel, most ranging at a rate of .13, in my county between state, county, and local our tax is .31 per gallon. In West Palm County where Boca is located you had a .35 tax.

In Cook County IL (Chicago) taxes total 47 cents on every gallon of gasoline (which includes the federal tax). Exxon makes 3 cents. Shell makes 2 cents. And they pay taxes on their tiny profit per gallon.

[AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP]

Aug 3, 2011 9:08:23 GMT -5 ugonow said:

Here is a really good example of someone on the left (a little to the left, by his own designation) who goes out of the way to not pay his fair share of taxes, but believes the wealthy should pay more.

The only fair way to solve this is to do away with the gas road taxes, and have a volunteer with a bucket ask for donations for the upkeep of the roads at every intersection ,on ramp, etc......

We could privatize stretches of road. It's already happened in several places-- both here and abroad-- and they run like a dream.

I'm not suggesting we collect a toll from folks on the way to the grocery store-- but lots of things could be done, even things besides user fees. We could offer corporate sponsorships. Instead of "Fill-in-the-politician Highway" we could have the IBM corridor; the Google bridge, and so on.

[ugonow]

We could offer corporate sponsorships. Instead of "Fill-in-the-politician Highway" we could have the IBM corridor; the Google bridge, and so on.

I kind of like that idea,on a yearly renewal basis.......

[Savoir Faire-Demogague in NJ]

Maybe the Notmsnmoney Politics & Markets forum can sponsor a stretch of highway??

[ugonow]

We could never agree on which highway....

[Angel!]

Aug 2, 2011 23:28:50 GMT -5 AgeOfEnlightenmentSCP said:

And while cars are more efficient, we drive further- and we drive a lot more of them.

Which is exactly the problem. Driving more cars & driving further means we need wider roads, more roads, & the pavement wears out faster & needs more upkeep. Yet, the govt isn't collecting additional money for all these increased expenses, they are collecting less money per mile driven than ever before. The number of miles driven is directly related to cost of our transportation infrastructure.