Tuesday, April 1, 2008

Proposed Gas Tax May Drive Prices Higher/ Claudia Paredes

AB2558 is a piece of legislation that is being introduced by Assemblyman Mike Feuer and supported by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority that would effect drivers in Lost Angeles County. Motorists would pay a fee of up to 3% of the price of gas (which translates into an extra 9 cents per gallon) or an additional fee of $90 on their vehicle registrtation that would all go towards fighting global warming. This registration fee would be higher for cars, trucks and SUVS in the hopes to discourage drivers from using these vehicles. The funding gained from this fee would be used for improvements to mass transit and programs aimed to relieve traffic congestion.

Opponents of this bill say that this is exploiting public sympathies to increase funding for a public transportation programs that already exist. They also point to the fact that gas is already taxed enough.

With the current budget deficit, funding for transportation and other local concerns must look towards new sources. Though the decision to put this bill on the ballot remains in the air, environmentalists argue that it is a local action to the problem of climate change that the federal government is not adequately responding to.


Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-taxes1apr01,1,7566510.story

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