Dems unveil 10 cent gas tax, bike fee to fund transportation
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - House Democrats unveiled a transportation revenue package Wednesday that would raise $9.8 billion over the next decade with the help of a 10-cent bump in the gas tax, a new annual car tab fee pegged at 0.7 percent of the vehicle's value and over $3 billion in new bonds.
Also included is a new $25 sales fee on bicycles sold for $500 or more, which is expected to bring in $1 million over the next ten years.
The plan, dubbed Connecting Washington, was introduced by Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, who is chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee.
"We at this point have a choice. If we do nothing we will watch the infrastructure crumble," said Clibborn. "Or we can unite. We can come together as House and Senate, as Democrats and Republicans, pass this bill, get the jobs on the ground and get the projects on the ground."
Also included in the package is nearly $900 million raised from a 0.3 percent hike in the hazardous substance tax and almost $200 million generated from new county auditor fees of $5 for vehicle tab renewals and $12 for title transfers.
In addition to $1 billion for both the state and local governments to maintain infrastructure, the package is meant to fund $3 billion to help pay for new and existing road projects, plus $123 million to pay for a third new 144-car ferry.
Included in that amount is $1 billion for connecting State Route 167 near Tacoma and State Route 509 near Seatac to Interstate 5, $450 million to complete the Columbia River Crossing and several hundred million dollars to extend the Interstate 405 HOT lanes from Bellevue to Renton in both directions.
Not included in the list of projects to be funded through the package is the Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel replacement in Seattle.
Republicans responded to Clibborn's proposal with skepticism.
"We know that we have a need within the transportation system," said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, who is co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. "It's whether this is the right time to address that need. I think the public will tell us that."
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, the ranking minority member of the House Transportation Committee, was more blunt in his criticism of the proposal, which would increase the current gas tax of 37.5 cents per gallon by 2 cents annually over five years.
"We need to spend the next two years drilling down into the cost drivers and figure out how to make our tax dollars go further," said Orcutt. "And we should make sure our tax dollars go further before we reach further into the taxpayers' pockets."
In order to be passed into law, any new taxes would have to receive a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature or simple majorities in both houses followed by a vote of the people.
If all the projects are fully funded - and many of the projects will require more money, likely from the federal government - House Democrats estimate the proposal would create 56,000 jobs.
Also included is a new $25 sales fee on bicycles sold for $500 or more, which is expected to bring in $1 million over the next ten years.
The plan, dubbed Connecting Washington, was introduced by Rep. Judy Clibborn, D-Mercer Island, who is chairwoman of the House Transportation Committee.
"We at this point have a choice. If we do nothing we will watch the infrastructure crumble," said Clibborn. "Or we can unite. We can come together as House and Senate, as Democrats and Republicans, pass this bill, get the jobs on the ground and get the projects on the ground."
Also included in the package is nearly $900 million raised from a 0.3 percent hike in the hazardous substance tax and almost $200 million generated from new county auditor fees of $5 for vehicle tab renewals and $12 for title transfers.
In addition to $1 billion for both the state and local governments to maintain infrastructure, the package is meant to fund $3 billion to help pay for new and existing road projects, plus $123 million to pay for a third new 144-car ferry.
Included in that amount is $1 billion for connecting State Route 167 near Tacoma and State Route 509 near Seatac to Interstate 5, $450 million to complete the Columbia River Crossing and several hundred million dollars to extend the Interstate 405 HOT lanes from Bellevue to Renton in both directions.
Not included in the list of projects to be funded through the package is the Alaskan Way Viaduct tunnel replacement in Seattle.
Republicans responded to Clibborn's proposal with skepticism.
"We know that we have a need within the transportation system," said Sen. Curtis King, R-Yakima, who is co-chair of the Senate Transportation Committee. "It's whether this is the right time to address that need. I think the public will tell us that."
Rep. Ed Orcutt, R-Kalama, the ranking minority member of the House Transportation Committee, was more blunt in his criticism of the proposal, which would increase the current gas tax of 37.5 cents per gallon by 2 cents annually over five years.
"We need to spend the next two years drilling down into the cost drivers and figure out how to make our tax dollars go further," said Orcutt. "And we should make sure our tax dollars go further before we reach further into the taxpayers' pockets."
In order to be passed into law, any new taxes would have to receive a two-thirds vote in both chambers of the Legislature or simple majorities in both houses followed by a vote of the people.
If all the projects are fully funded - and many of the projects will require more money, likely from the federal government - House Democrats estimate the proposal would create 56,000 jobs.
Here is a thought, REPEAL the tribal gas tax break!!! Tribal gas stations get 75 cents a gallon back for each gallon they sell for a tax break. Its suppose to be used for road improvements on reservation land... Sad part is they dont have to prove to anyone where the money actually went, Some tribes reservation is a Casino and that is it... How much money do you need to pave a parking lot. Last I checked when the Treaty was signed there was no Casinos or gas stations so why are we giving away all these tax dollars to a nation that is sucking the state dry, along with the free federal money they recieve. Instead of nailing us at every turn........ make it fair and collect taxes from everyone
Wait, $5 county auditor fee on vehicle tab renewal PLUS Â additional .7% car tab fee? And you know that the state will value your vehicle at a lot more than what you could sell it for. Plus gas tax increase? The gas tax is already more than 10% of the price of a gallon. You know, for a state with such a liberal "fighting for the little guy" reputation, WA sure likes to make it tough on low income families.
McDonalds hasn't sold over a billion hamburgers because their prices are $4-$5 a burger!
Think about that a minute! The cheaper the gas, the more trips one makes to the store, running around, shopping, etc. etc.
But Olympia's greed and mis-management has to be fed and rewarded! It's OUR money and they WANT IT NOW!!
Share the road? Share the load! The bicycle fee is a good idea! The gas tax not so much!
It is OUR FAULT. We, the People, are to blame for this crap. We need to stop crying about this stuff until we start acting our role. What is our role? We are their employers, and until we start behaving and acting like their bosses, we haven't a damned thing to say. I cannot just go to MY boss and say, pay me more because I cannot control my money. Well folks, that is EXACTLY what the legislators are doing to us. Stand up and teach our employees an unforgettable civics lesson!
Taxing car drivers MORE is not the answer and is personally hurting our family. I ride a bike and do public transportation to save money (and for the exercise). I am ok paying an annual bike licensing fee. Don't throw it on the bike shops. Washington is just crippling the working family and small business more.
LOL, so once again the people who voted for this will now scream. You really do get the Government you deserve.
I like the idea of taxing bikes - but would rather see the tax be in the form of license both for the bike AND the rider...with a readable license plate that could be used in the cases where a bike rider violates the rules of the road that all motor vehicle drivers have to.
There are two times to tax (according to the prevailing tax party) - when times are good and when times are bad. In facts that is the number one solution to all situations - tax, tax, tax, tax, and tax some more. And while we're at it, make sure that the friends in industries that are supposed to be funded by revenues of taxes after-the-fact (ordinarily out of the prosperity of the Citizens first), are claimed as those "jobs" that will provide for the taxes to pay for the ... Wait - yeah, they always get that backwards too - call infrastructure "jobs", dismiss the private sector as the priority, create the monolithic expense as the cart before the horse, and then, only then, look to find ways to pry the costs our of the peoples hands. What better method than to tax, tax, tax and tax more. Why not? Besides, those benefiting from taxes that pay those lavish pays for those doing the taxing aren't feeling anywhere near an impact as the regular folks have to pay, so it seems painless, and there's job security to boot! So it's a win-win for those inside the circle. Right? Of course, I'm just one guy and it's my opinion after a very long day of trying to catch up to all the taxes just to take some money home after working day after day (when I can work).
Look, Greed is greed, whether you take it in exorbitant profits or in exorbitant taxes which turns into political profit. Again - just my opinion after a very long day and many prior months of trying to catch up.Â
Look at it this way. Â Because our President ROCKS and established minimum miles per gallon standards for our vehicles in the near future, you won't have be paying any more than you already do to the state. Â
So...if the taxes stay where they are at and the need to fill up is less frequent, that means...drumroll...
a) we don't repair things because we have less funds, OR
b) we raise the tax so that we are able to meet the needs of our state's transportation infrastructure.Â
This isn't rocket science. Â It isn't socialism. Â It isn't Spendslee or whatever nickname third grade conservatives give him. Â It's called common sense. Â Unless you want to go back to dirt roads and crumbling bridges of course. Â
@seattleways Drink deeply of the Kool-Aid, it is less painful that way. Nobody is talking about dirt roads. We are talking about making do with what you have - like the rest of us have to do every day. They haven't come close to keeping the promises from past tax increases, so why the hell should we give them more? The 520 bridge fiasco comes to mind when I say spend smart and responsibly and with conviction. Without conviction, you don't give a crap about what you get for the money spent. One thing I agree with you on is, it isn't rocket science. It is disgusting.
keep drinking their kool aid. I already can't afford to buy the new car that gets this new gas mileage so your logic, while it may work for others more fortunate, does not work in my case. So the rich really do get richer, or at least stay the same, while those of us in the middle and lower get poorer.
LOL, their messiah is part of the 1% but they will never see that since they donât want to. No matter what he does to destroy things they will continue to cheer. Meanwhile him and his very rich friends play golf and laugh at what rubes they are.
And for those who voted for inslee thinking he was something new... These are his tax and spend buddies proposing new taxes. He is just more of the same. We tried to warn you. I can only conclude that the slim majority in this state love the tax abuse and keep voting for these idiots.
Maybe now, even the Schwin-ters will accept that the left wingers they keep voting into office, are unable to manage a budget and are dipping into their cappacino pockets. Welcome to the world of the left, where everyone else pays for the lack of self accomplishment. Kick in another 5.00 to cover all your welfare buddies who say they need more, and yet won't use the same energy to get an actual job. What? No jobs? Thanks Obama. You can't keep blaming Bush for this. Not to fear, Obama is on the golf course with Tiger. I'm sure he's really thinking of us all.
How is adding ANOTHER ten cent gas tax going to benefit the working poor, the elder poor and those who are just getting by? Seriously? Do the politician not get that higher gas prices force up the price of necessities like food that have to be transported by vehicles that use gas? How is is this going to help our economy? How is this going to make our state a desirable place to live or run a business? Epic fail is what that gas tax is. Why can't the government, at any level, learn to manage money better by trimming non-essentials and scaling back on big plans until the economy is healthy?
This madness will never end...
@blobux "MADNESS! This...is....SEEEEAAATLLLLLE!!"
Wow. Has it occurred to anyone to negotiate with these contractors? The economy is still not good, and many of these companies are starving, but the bids are still up there. Government is an easy mark for them, as opposed to the private sector, because they know it is a shoe-in. Look at the 520 project, has anyone considered taking those guys to court?? TONS of reporting on the scams and problems, but yet no results? Seems like the "State" feels they have to just say yes to just about anything, yet the contractors don't deliver half of what they promise. Worse, it's poor quality garbage that will have to be fixed for even more money.
Can someone in this state get a spine already, and bargain hard? You cant keep taxing the people more and more, especially when there are so many VERY EXPENSIVE mistakes being made that no one is held accountable for. I understand costs...but lies and sub par work is not something anyone should pay for, and that includes us, the TAXPAYER ! DOT, stop saying that we are legally obligated to pay shysters! Maybe then we all would not feel this way about taxes.
And by the way, I'm a Democrat but I still know BS and fiscal irresponsibility when I see it.
I find it ironic that Dem's are the first to kick holler and scream about oil companies making 1 cent a gallon. Here the state already gets 37.5 cents and the feds 18 cents. The state now wants another dime and .7% excise on car registrations.Â
@Maynard G Krebbs"scream about oil companies making 1 cent a gallon"
It's the gas station owners who make the 1 cent/gal, the oil companies make a who lot more than that.
Wow, currently at 37.5c per gallon taxed, that ties us for the highest tax nation wide with NC. Add another 10c on it and we take top seat. This will only generate revenue if our purchasing remains the same.Â
We went through this the last time Olympia hiked the gas tax at the same time that it hit $4 a gallon, purchases of fuel dropped and they fell way below their intended mark, so much so Christine Gregoire was going to raise the tax even more... Keep taxing it, we will stop buying it, and then the cost goes down and you still don't make your revenue mark.
@rb1209333Â "Keep taxing it, we will stop buying it" Â Keep dreaming. People need to get to work. And Americans will never stop driving to the mailbox 100 yards away from the house, it's in their culture to not walk anywhere. The drop was due to people getting rid of ridiculous 8MPGÂ vehicles.Â
Waaaaah!!!!! Â Waaaaahhhh!!!!! Â Me want things but don't want to pay for it! Â Waaaaaaaahhhhhhh!
You're being taxed at the lowest per capita rate in many many years by the state. Â What's that? Â Your wages haven't gone up, adjusted for inflation, in decades? Â What's that? Â Your boss lives in a gated community? Â What's that? Â His boss owns his own private jet? Â
Ah. Â Maybe it's time we reassess our society. Â Rich are thriving. Â Poor are taxed to death. Â Hmm....
Perhaps we're all worked up and barking up the wrong tree?
Just saying!
@seattleways You have richer friends then me.
@Maynard G Krebbs @Mike @seattleways Nope.  My money is YOURS to spend.  King County subsidizes most of the counties in the state.  Get it? Â
K, thanks buh bye!
@Mike @seattleways he is from King County. he thinks your money is his to spend.Â
Timmy, I'd love to see your face right now.
Well, I sent a letter to my representative, but like all things political in Washington, my voice won't be heard. I told them I was sick of form letters when I write to a representative....guess what I got back. They don't listen. Inflation and taxation are frickin' killing me.
Sorry, I'm broke. Bill me later.
Before they decide how much tax money then need and where they're going to get it from they need to take all new projects out of this proposal.  Then figure out how much money they need to repair and maintain the roads they have.  That will be a more reasonable number.  Assuming they get the money, once the DOT can show that the currents roads can be fixed and maintained then they can propose new projects. Â
they should leave the cyclists alone. It'll create a huge industry of incomplete bicycles. Instead of a $800 bike, you'll by the "bike" for $475.32 from your local bike shop. It'll have no seat, tires, or chain. You then will step out of the store, walk back in and buy the "rest of it" for $312.56, which they great guys and gals at LOCAL BIKE STORE will assemble for you as a courtesy. I love it.
@hardtowatchitfade That's great they will pay more in Taxes buying the parts they need to complete it. All the Taxes they get from bike shops should go to the High Way Department for roads.
Screw these people. What the hell is WRONG with this system? These people can't spend money wisely in the first place, and then, like vampires at a blood bank, come for more and more and more. Hey Olympia.....here's an idea.....LEARN HOW TO BUDGET THE MONEY YOU ALREADY TAKE BEFORE TRYING TO STEAL MORE!!! It's about time we all stand up against these thieves, and tell them in no uncertain terms to keep their greedy hands out of our wallets. You can't suck blood out of a corpse, and we're about tapped out. Unbefreakinlievable!
@Harley-H.S.C."It's about time we all stand up against these thieves, and tell them in no uncertain terms to keep their greedy hands out of our wallets."
The only way to stand up to them is to stop electing them.
@Harley-H.S.C. The reason they can't, what they do does not affect them.
The thieves in Olympia want to steal more and more of your money and my money. They will never have enough. They will always want more. It is total irresponsibility. I will do everything I can to avoid these new taxes including continuing to drive older cars that are worth almost nothing.
Why are they only going to tax bikes that cost $500 or more? Do they not realize that a good portion of those more expensive bikes are use by people who only ride on trails? They should instead do a use tax for those who ride on roads and not base it on the cost of the bike.
@raspberry90Â they should leave the cyclists alone. It'll create a huge industry of incomplete bicycles. Instead of a $800 bike, you'll by the "bike" for $475.32 from your local bike shop. It'll have no seat, tires, or chain. You then will step out of the store, walk back in and buy the "rest of it" for $312.56, which they great guys and gals at LOCAL BIKE STORE will assemble for you as a courtesy. I love it.
bicycle surcharge on bikes over $500 !
This would create and underground Bicycle black market, would it not ? I can see it now, banning private bicycle sales !
I have disliked the some of the hippies in charge of this state for years, but I never thought they'd turn on the cyclists too. !
I'm gonna start collecting high quality used bicycles and selling them outta a van !
How about including a license plate and registration fee for bicycles. Most cyclists act like they own the road; make them pay for it.Â
@rlm98253 Amen to that!
The spend/tax party is at it again. We are already have one of the highest gas taxes in the nation
thanks to them. The taxes are not being used just for roads, but parts of it subsidize publicÂ
transportation and the DOT ferry system. Japan's public transportation system (buses and trains)
is privately owned and operated without government subsidies. How do they do that?  Simple,
they charge enough to cover operational cost and maintenance plus enough to still make stock
holders a profit. Until gas taxes are used ONLY for roads, no to any new gas tax increases.
@pete1427Â Well, it's not an apple to oranges comparison. Japan is very densely populated. It's virtually impossible to maintain a useful and profitable public transportation system with low population density.Â
$30 car tabs, last I checked mine were over $100. Â Now they want to tax me thousands more each year... Â I don't even mind the gas tax, or a tax on mileage, or tolls. Â But when I already paid the exorbitant sales tax, to then charge me a tax to continue owning my car is downright ludicrous.
Time for a recall. Replace Olympia!
It doesn't matter how big WA's road budget gets, it will never be enough. This state REFUSES to learn how to properly manage money.
@Dredd57 That is because there are no consequences for them when THEY throw OUR money away.
To all the people complaining, go get yourself a job in their shoes and try to do better.  Better yet, just pack your bags and go find another city that does a better job.  And to all those who think all these people just make a bunch of money and life is good, Judy Clibborn makes 42K a year and she's a supporter of this because she realizes the consequences.  Do you think she wants to pay the extra when she barely makes anything for her age? Hell no!Â
(Source for her salary since I know people will ask. )
http://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php/Judy_Clibborn
@SeaPWÂ Yes, I'm sure she is waiting for her check to be direct deposited every payday, living on Mercer Island and all. Find out what her husband Bruce does for a living, Sherlock.
@SeaPWÂ Let's see...$900K to put an off ramp in the wrong spot, portions of the Hwy 18 expansion were double over budget due to poor surveying and double paying invoices, the entire 520 clusterf**k, tolling systems that don't work...need I go on? Â This is just the tip of the iceberg. Â WSDOT needs a major overhaul and needs to learn how to manage money.
@stamperzann @SeaPW Don't forget a ferry system that could do well to start from scratch!
@SeaPWÂ You're an idiot!
@Glassman @SeaPW Great comment! I noticed you posted the same thing below to someone else.  Are we in 3rd grade or do you just not know how to string together a sentence?Â
@SeaPWGet a grip. Look at how WA state manages major road projects. They secure ALL the funding for ONE project, and then start 3 or 4 major projects and fund them all using the same source. Everything ends up 30% funded, and nothing gets finished until after they go crying back to the tax payers for more money.
The answer, is NO.
@Dredd57Â @SeaPWÂ Which one for example? Pretty sure I can commute all over the Pacific NW with no issues other than some traffic...Looks like they are doing a pretty decent job. Â
@SeaPWÂ @Dredd57 lol, you probably think our Federal budgeting is spot on too I'd imagine.
And exactly what do YOU want me to do about it? Isn't this why I elect people? Am I supposed to fix everything?
@Dredd57Â @SeaPWÂ Pretty decent job to me. Go make a difference. Do something about it. The forums are a bad place to start. Â
@SeaPW @Dredd57 I guess you forgot about the Monorail. This has also happened with massive bridge repairs/modernizations too. This isn't new either, they've been doing it since the 70's.
Pretty decent job huh? Well, except that they are out of money and they are crying that infrastructure is falling apart. That and the horrendous budgeting and management of road projects and funding.