The freeways aren't free

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Neal Peirce / Syndicated columnist

We might have expected it. The energy price spikes triggered by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita prompted state legislators in a dozen or more states to propose drastic (albeit temporary) gasoline-tax suspensions.

Heaven forbid, it would seem, that the legislators' constituents should have to face the consequences of buying SUVs and other gas-guzzling heavy vehicles. Or the perils of choosing homes in distant suburbs with long, long commutes. Or the consequences of ignoring years of warnings about the nation's vulnerability to global energy cutoffs.

No, it seems our politicos believe we need price coddling. For years they've refused to raise gas taxes nearly fast enough to maintain reasonable spending power to keep road systems in shape. Somehow we still believe "freeways" are truly "free."

Fortuitously, most state legislatures weren't in session the past month or two, so the tax holidays were generally just talk. But not in Georgia, where a special session was called, and the House rushed 164-6, the Senate 49-2, to ratify Gov. Sonny Perdue's moratorium on the state gasoline tax.

Were the legislators considerate, spendthrift or spineless? Take your choice. The fact is, gas taxes exist for a reason: to pay for roads the public wants and expects. When gas taxes are cut, or lag in the face of inflation, it's not just roads that may suffer — schools, universities, medical programs and many more programs are potential losers. Already, by one analysis, roadway demands are gobbling up so much of our public revenue stream that gas taxes only cover 35 percent of the burden.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2002550957_peirce10.html

[bahrbearian]

1. Damn that Gregoire . Rossi would have put us straight.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

3. Yeah he would've signed the same tax increase.

Two of the projects that are financed by the recent increase, replacement of the 520 bridge and expansion of I-405, are projects Rossi has longed championed. Rossi also voted for the nickel gas tax increase when he was in the legislature.

Since Rossi lost however he'd rather pout and keep his mouth shut. If he runs for governor again he'll blame Gregoire for not fixing our traffic problems.

[Zenlitened]

2. Factual error? Hurricanes didn't trigger price spikes.

Prices were rising long before the hurricanes hit.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. So that means I get a choice between driving less and breaking an axle

on a crater of an unrepaired pothole.

[MissMarple]

5. You should see the highways in Colorado.

I-25 has mile long cracks down the middle and big potholes that sometimes actually get filled. Some stretches are ok, though. But the deterioration will only get worse this winter. I was on I-25 south of Pueblo last week and a couple of CDOT workers with a truck and a shovel were hopping in and out of traffic to fill in the cracks. They were lucky it was a rural area and traffic was relatively light. Eisenhower will be spinning in his grave. The federal highway system was to make our country more secure.

[bemildred]

6. Marvelous traffic there in Denver too.

In it's way worse than LA.

[Porcupine]

7. Dystopia here we come!! It looks like SUV's, bicycles.......

and nothing else on the roads. You will need an SUV to survive the roads or a bicycle to ignore the worst bits. Sounds like Africa. Now where do I get an ox yoke?