So what do you think of O'Malley's gas tax plan?

[LiberalEsto]

I think it's insane. The average Marylander can't afford it, especially with gas prices already heading toward $4 a gallon and predicted to go as high as $5.

People are so squeezed these days by unemployment, lower wages, higher food prices and rising gas prices that they will resist.

The DC Metro, which is deteriorating more every year, wants yet another rate increase. So people will be screwed no matter which form of transportation they use in the DC area, car or Metro rail and bus.

This proposed tax, combined with all the other nuisance taxes we pay on energy, water, phone and other services, will just increase the burden on the middle class as well as the poor.

If Maryland needs money for transportation, tax the corporations and the wealthiest.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

1. It is fundamentally regressive

I have also seen it used to "encourage" people to use mass transit. IME, many who could use mass transit, already used it.

[madinmaryland]

2. I don't think it stands much of a chance. Adding 6% to the cost of gasoline will probably

be a non-starter. What needs to be done is raise taxes on the corporations and the wealthiest.

[LiberalEsto]

3. Gas is supposed to go up 60 cents by May

according to today's Washington Pest. (spelling intentional).

It seems to me that a proposal like this would be political suicide for O'Malley.
I like him and I really wish he would give up on increasing the state's gas tax.

[madinmaryland]

4. I saw that on the news last night. Tacking on 6% to $4 gasoline would amount

to a $0.25 increase on top of the expected 0.60 hike. I think it was an idea that was floated, but will be shot down in short order.

I think they will go back to the gimmicks to raise revenue, though it would be nice to see them go after the more affluent in the state, rather than rely on gimmicks and regressive taxes.

[AnnieBW]

5. We certainly could use the transportation money, but

I don't think that it's going to fly in this season of anti-tax sentiment and high gas prices.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

6. Not a good idea