The Conservative Cave
Current Events => Archives => Politics => Election 2008 => Topic started by: Wretched Excess on May 22, 2008, 11:58:35 AM
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what's interesting about this article is how it relates to Obama's stand on the federal "gas tax holiday";
he is adamantly opposed. I am going back to see if I can look up his record on gas taxes. chicago is
obviously getting soaked with local gas taxes. I suspect this could be embarrassing if it gets into the
right hands.
Truth In Politics: Illinois Gas Prices And Taxes
CHICAGO (CBS) ― Tired of seeing the price at the pump jump every time you need to buy gasoline? Well, the record-high price of gasoline in the Chicago area is linked to a record-high rate of taxation: nearly 20 percent of the Chicago price.
As CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, tax refugees wait in long lines on Indianapolis Boulevard in Northwest Indiana. They jockey for position at a pump, lured by prices that are 20 cents a gallon or more cheaper than just a few blocks away back in Illinois.
"It was $4.20. I can come over here and get it for $3.93," said Tikvah Wadley, one of the many fleeing Illinois taxes.
Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin complained to oil company bosses at a hearing on Capitol Hill about Chicago having the highest gasoline prices in the United States. Largely ignored was the role taxes are playing -- an astounding 10 levels of taxation.
"Does it trouble any of you when you see what you're doing to us?" Durbin asked..
In the city, Motor Fuel Taxes originally for building roads currently go to the Feds, Illinois, Cook County and Chicago. The 9.25 percent sales tax is split among Illinois, Chicago and Cook County's share of the state sales tax; a county home rule tax; RTA transit tax and a Chicago home rule levy.
The watchdog Civic Federation says that on a $4 gallon of gas, the total tax is 79.2 cents. That compares to 77 cents in Los Angeles and 65 cents in New York City.
"Every time the price of gas goes up, the tax goes up with it," said one motorist.
And that, of course, is exactly the point for the politicians. Gov. Blagojevich, for example, is counting on the high price of gasoline to bring at least an extra $220 million in the State Treasury in the fiscal year that begins this July. Most of that will be used to balance the way-out-of-balance budget.
link (http://cbs2chicago.com/politics/gas.prices.taxes.2.729939.html)
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WE, while Obama was in the state legislature he voted for a gas tax "holiday." He says, as does others, that the break in the gas taxes did not actually lower the cost of gas during said holidays which is why he's against a gas tax holiday now.
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WE, while Obama was in the state legislature he voted for a gas tax "holiday." He says, as does others, that the break in the gas taxes did not actually lower the cost of gas during said holidays which is why he's against a gas tax holiday now.
yep. and I'm not at sure I am buying it now. when THAT much local gov't revenue depends on a single form of taxation, you protect it because your entire agenda depends on it, not because "it didn't work". I want to know exactly what he is talking about, and exactly how it "didn't work".
I am also interested to learn his role in jacking state and local gas taxes up to 20% in the first place.
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WE, while Obama was in the state legislature he voted for a gas tax "holiday." He says, as does others, that the break in the gas taxes did not actually lower the cost of gas during said holidays which is why he's against a gas tax holiday now.
Gas prices DID go down in Illinois during the gas tax holiday in 2000, Miss Mia.
IIRC, then (and now imprisoned) Governor Ryan (R) championed the proposal of a gas-tax holiday from July to December of 2000. I could be wrong on the exact dates.