REPUBLICAN RESPONSE: The PROGRESSIVE Gas Tax

The oft-repeated line by numerous Democratic candidates throughout the 2012 election is they were “fighting for the middle class.” If only this were the case.

Here in Massachusetts we have one party government. The heavily Democratic controlled state legislature can operate with near impunity and the result of this is rampant abuse of their power. And the taxpayers almost always feel the effect of this abuse.  

Case in point.

As a part of the 2013 budget bill passed and signed by Governor Patrick, the tax on gasoline is set to go up automatically every time there is an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI – the primary measure of inflation).

Ignoring for the moment the fact that inflation itself is tax whereby the purchasing power of our money is diminished and the government is able to theoretically pay back the nominal amount owed with dollars that are worth less, “automatic tax increases” are still unconstitutional. We live in a Constitutional republic where our elected representatives are supposed to legislate new taxes, not put taxes on auto-pilot. This is true at both the state and national level.

The current monetary policy of quantitative easing – recently reaffirmed by Janet Yellen – is one that will without question lead to rapid price inflation. It is only a question of when. In addition, the political instability of the Middle East lends itself to the possibility of large price swings in the price of oil.

Simply put, if a crisis erupts and oil prices suddenly spike, Massachusetts citizens will not only be hit with rising costs, they’ll get a double whammy of a higher tax. This creates a perverse cycle eroding middle and working class family’s ability to make ends meet.

Careful mention should be made when discussing this issue to not limit the impact to drivers. We cannot forget the downstream effects that rising fuel costs have. Just about every aspect of commerce relies on transportation and as transportation costs rise, it is passed on to all of us.

The progressive socialist members who dominate the Democratic party condescendingly view this tax as a positive step. In their view anything that gets people to drive less, consume fewer fossil fuels and make people dependent on public transportation is worth it, not matter the cost. It is a dedication to a radical, leftwing agenda that in no way helps middle and working class people whatsoever.

As all Americans continue to struggle through the most anemic recovery - if you can call it that - in our country’s history, the last thing we need here in Massachusetts is another tax that hurts the people whom Democrats claim to be working for.

For more information please visit http://www.tankthegastax.org