Gretcholm wants to raise fuel taxes by 45 cents/gallon by 2020

[Deleted User 4520]

https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/skub ... 1828988978

[Mega Hertz]

I have an idea!

Work release! Have prisoners chained and babysat and have THEM fix the roads, and that will save us on the labor costs!

OR

Have everyone in the state take a week off from work and help work on them!

Nah, I didn't think so, either.

I just don't see how a tax on gas is going to help when we've done this drill before. We've spent this money time and time again, only to be given shoddy worksmanship, construction that lasts FOREVER, and roads being torn up/replaced after just a few years. But, they know all they have to do is say "schools" or "roads" and then expect people to buy into it. No good, Kemo Sabe.

[Deleted User 14935]

I have an idea!

Work release! Have prisoners chained and babysat and have THEM fix the roads, and that will save us on the labor costs!

OR

Have everyone in the state take a week off from work and help work on them!

Nah, I didn't think so, either.

I just don't see how a tax on gas is going to help when we've done this drill before. We've spent this money time and time again, only to be given shoddy worksmanship, construction that lasts FOREVER, and roads being torn up/replaced after just a few years. But, they know all they have to do is say "schools" or "roads" and then expect people to buy into it. No good, Kemo Sabe.

The prisoners idea is great!

[Mega Hertz]

I have an idea!

Work release! Have prisoners chained and babysat and have THEM fix the roads, and that will save us on the labor costs!

OR

Have everyone in the state take a week off from work and help work on them!

Nah, I didn't think so, either.

I just don't see how a tax on gas is going to help when we've done this drill before. We've spent this money time and time again, only to be given shoddy worksmanship, construction that lasts FOREVER, and roads being torn up/replaced after just a few years. But, they know all they have to do is say "schools" or "roads" and then expect people to buy into it. No good, Kemo Sabe.

The prisoners idea is great!

Logically? Sure. But it would never get past the unions. And I'm sure someone will cry foul with working conditions, proper breaks and work load. But, you get a chance to be out of your box, get sunlight, get exercise, and who knows what the savings to the state would be!

[stopnswop2]

Surprise us with acting sane next please

[ZenithCKLW]

...full of something, but it’s not surprises.

[TC Talks]

People incur an additional $562 per year in damage to their vehicle due to poor roads as compared to if the roads were better?
I'm not buying it.

I don't remember the last time I paid ANYTHING for road related repairs.

I don't think I put $565 in repairs in 20 years.

We don't all do our own repairs...

[Deleted User 8570]

NS8401 queried:

Is $500 really THAT painful to the top 60% that they’ll have to make drastic changes to their lives as a result? Somehow I doubt it...

For many - probably not. Yet, there are a decent number of people whose households earn $70k+/year who are super deep in debt and are living paycheck to paycheck even though they shouldn't be.

IMO, your question isn't the correct one to ask.

The proper question to ask is this: Is it absolutely necessary to tax many middle class households an extra $500 or $600 per year without first easing their financial burden elsewhere?

The answer to the above question - in my view - is a resounding FUCK NO!!!

Reform auto insurance. Save most Michigan households $1000+ per year. THEN & only then, levy the full $0.45 per gallon tax.

Reading between the lines of our Republican leaders in Lansing, I am fearful they might be willing to allow a vote on a compromise bill whereby the EITC is expanded, business taxes remain as-is, retiree taxes remain as-is, and the full $0.45 fuel tax increase is levied within a 2 year (or less) period. While a bill containing the above concepts would represent a slight improvement from Whitmer's proposal, I would be completely unwilling to support legislation containing such concepts unless auto insurance reform has already been enacted.

So I should feel bad for and attempt to prop up people’s irresponsible financial decisions? Screw that. Being a spendthrift isn’t anyone’s problem but the clowns that can’t live within their means.

My in-laws make $129,000 a year and borrow from my wife and I for groceries because they have no money or are negative and live paycheck to paycheck. If you are looking for sympathy for stupid people then look elsewhere. You could get them in line easily by cutting their spending but they decline the offer and CHOOSE to be in that position. Not my problem.

[stopnswop2]

I would love to know HOW THE FUCK someone that makes 129,000 a year lives paycheck to paycheck?

Do they buy H*** nonsense things like 10 boats and beach houses?

[Deleted User 8570]

I would love to know HOW THE FUCK someone that makes 129,000 a year lives paycheck to paycheck?

Do they buy H*** nonsense things like 10 boats and beach houses?

Spend it all on unnecessary things and trips and extra curricular activities... look at every dollar as needing to be spent etc...

[stopnswop2]

Wow

[Deleted User 8570]

Wow

That’s the same way an $80,000 a year teacher was crying poor and claiming he couldn’t make ends meet as it was when they tried to cut pay in Ann Arbor a few years ago...

[audiophile]

People incur an additional $562 per year in damage to their vehicle due to poor roads as compared to if the roads were better?
I'm not buying it.

I don't remember the last time I paid ANYTHING for road related repairs.

I don't think I put $565 in repairs in 20 years.

We don't all do our own repairs...

Helps to cars that are designed and manufactured well.

[Deleted User 8570]

People incur an additional $562 per year in damage to their vehicle due to poor roads as compared to if the roads were better?
I'm not buying it.

I don't remember the last time I paid ANYTHING for road related repairs.

I don't think I put $565 in repairs in 20 years.

We don't all do our own repairs...

Helps to cars that are designed and manufactured well.

We all may have a different definition of when a vehicle requires repair too...