[Oeva-list] Update on HB2328

[cje at hevanet.com]

Sure. We spend more on roads than we take in. We've all known that 
forever, it's not new. I'm just calling BS on blaming the shovel wielders 
and road-grader drivers. The legislature is the place to cast the blame. 

Curt

> 
> --- On Wed, 5/4/11, cje at hevanet.com <cje at hevanet.com> wrote:
> 
> As far as the "cutting benefits" etc stuff goes, it doesn't work like 
> that. They're already taking furlough days and benefit cuts. Dark 
> mutterings about "taxing the little guy so they don't have to suffer
too">   
> and hating on the gummint slug DOT guys don't really further any 
> constructive ends. The problem here is the legislators, not the guys
with>  
> the shovels.
> 
> 
> 
> I refer you to the abstract of the talk by Gail Achterman, Chair, Oregon
> Transportation Commission .
> It has the following paragraph.
>  But the transportation revenue model is broken. Revenues flowing into
th> e federal Highway Trust Fund have fallen significantly due to higher 
gas
pr> ices, recession pressures and the shift to alternative fuels. 
Meanwhile,
st> ate fuel tax revenue can only be used for highway transportation 
projects.
> First, I highly doubt the shift to alternative fuels affects them in any
me> asureableway.
> So it sounds pretty obvious that they are  claiming the system is
"broken> " becausethe recession is taking a hit on them too.   
> This hardly sounds "broken" to me.    It actually sounds a desireable
f> eedback.i.e. people are poorer, less people are driving, so less money 
is
c> oming back into the roads.   If everyone elses wages are falling, is
it>  broken to suggest that government's wages should fall also?
> Do you think she would be claiming the system is "broken" if it was the
oth> er way around?   i.e.  " Well more people are driving because of the
> economic boom, and lower gas prices and we are getting a ton more money,
> so the system must be broken...."
> Personally I think her abstract shows pretty clearly exactly what I
alluded>  to.  "They don't expect their fortunes to rise and fall with the
general>  public.   Theyonly expect them to rise".    So I think it is
actuall> y "Tax the little guy more"because the system is "broken".   They 
just
do> n't say it in those words.
> More something like.....
> Because the transportation revenue system is universally regarded to be
u> nsustainable, we most seek more ways to look at smaller revenue
sources>  which have not been fully exploited in order to fully fund
ourobligation> s
> 
> 
> I'm just not falling for that hot air.....
I'm just not falling for that hot air.....