DiMasi pushes gas tax increase instead of toll hike

This what the citizens of the commonwealth get for not passing question 1

More reason to do all shoping & gas-up out-of-state!! Much lower prices. Economy is already in a big hurt.

increase the gas tax - a FAIR tax to ALL mass residents who use their cars! why should a select few carry the cost of the big dig???

I never go into Boston. Why should I have to pan an increase in gas tax now that we are just starting to see some relief. Why doesnt the state workers cut back on early retirement, fully convered medical insurance etc etc. It's always the tax payers that get screwed. It's about time that Boston officials consider the fact that any increase in taxes etc is unacceptable.

I am so ANGRY. We are in an Economic CRISIS. They are actually using the word, depression. How can one of our representatives be so ignorant of simple economics.

Finally, the gas prices come down and we can afford some gas. It makes the cost of manufacturing and delivering goods lower. Both of which will help our economy.

So House Speaker DiMasi feels it would be "fairer" to have people in Pittsfield, North Adams, Southbridge, New Bedford, Leominster pay their share of the Big Dig who will rarely if ever use it than the people who will use and benefit from it every day. Brilliant.

Why can't the legislature live within their means (present taxation levels) like the rest of us have to?

It'd be great if I could vote my family an income increase whenever it suited me.

No gas tax....I don't drive in Boston but when I do to hit the airport then I will pay the tolls for the tunnel because I am using the road. This big dig did not benefit me, unless I go into Boston so I and other drivers should not pay for it. It is high time those perks, like discounted fares for those that use the Big Dig, I am looking at you East Boston to pay up.

Well, it's about time Speaker DiMasi did something sane. I've found out he was a major force behind that stupid health insurance mandate that tried to intimidate the citizens of the Commonwealth to buy health insurance. The insurance companies sure cleaned up on that. one. Gas in Mass. is cheap; closest states to us are Ohio and New Jersey. It's about time to get some better funding for the infrastructure; this is the way to go.

Okay. Well then the next step would be to figure out how much the tax would need to be raised to in order to generate another $90-$100 million.

A gas tax is a much fairer way to pay for the absurdly expensive Big Dig. Western commuters get no advantage from any Big Dig work unless they go to the airport, yet the toll increases are for the Pike and not just the airport tunnel - and most of the Big Dig is the 93 replacement. Gas taxes are a general use tax (pay as you drive) and aren't specific to any road. Since all roads are supported by gas taxes, people have no reason to complain that they don't benefit from a gas tax increase As it is today, Western commuters are subsidizing everyone else in the state.

Yes, the gas tax is much fairer-taxes those who use the roads-not just those who travel East/West, West/East.

Great Mr. Governor. So the tough economic times make an 11 cent gas tax a hardship....but a $7 toll is OK?

Amazing....simply amazing

so, how much would have to be added to the gas tax to raise 90 to 100 million?

i don't drive any of the toll roads regularly but a .05 cent increase in the gas tax makes more sense than charging such high tolls to a very small group. it's an unfair burden even if those drivers get the most benefit. if it was on $1 or $1.50 it wouldn't be that big a deal but these tolls are ridiculous. these few drivers shouldn't have to bear the burden of the pikes mismanagement. besides people will find ways around the toll (and make a mess on the secondary roads) and they'll make even less.

Government wasteful spending is what needs to be hacked apart. Let's not try to resolve the issue with more taxes. Oh wait... it's MA we're talking about.

Can you imagine the $$ that could be saved by eliminating the fat cat state jobs? But that won't happen. The pols aren't about to cut anything that helps line the pockets of themselves or their friends. The unions are going ot make sure there's plenty of wasteful spending going on. So let's just stick it to the taxpayers.

Oh well, If Czar Demasi says "more Taxes" it MUST be Okay, Right? We should have sent a message and Voted "YES" on Question one (I did) They (The hacks and Czar Demasi) never would have let it stand but now they think we LIKE taxes. The economy is going in the tank and Dimasi wants to RAISE TAXES????!!! Funny, he didn't want Casinos?

They should eliminate all Tollbooths and the Turnpike Authority altogether, except perhaps a low toll fee for the Tunnels ($2 dollars), and replace it with a statewide increase in the gas tax. I heard a 9 cent increase per gallon would cover it.

This is really the only fair way to deal with this. It is not right for those who use the Pike and those who have to use the tunnels for work or business to get punished, while everyone that uses Rt 128, 93, 95, and Rt 3 do not have tolls. And I am someone that lives south of Boston and commutes in to work every day ! Raise the gas tax ! Eliminate all the toll booths !

We need John Kerry will get us out of this mess...

Certainly a gas tax is more equitable to residents dependent on the turnpike. The idea of raising tolls on the turnpike is a cowardly concept. The people benefitting most from the "Big Dig" do not currently share any burden for its debt.

Fifteen States have a higher gas tax than MA. That doesn't look like "below" the national average to me.
I can't wait until the new president gets going
You fools wanted tax and spend Liberals. Well you got them.
Hang on for dear life

Now is a really good time to raise the gas tax, since the price of gas has gone down so much. Everyone has gotten used to high gas prices, so adding 2 to 5 cents per gallon won't seem like a big deal (though I think 8 cents per gallon is in order, to help pay for reconstruction of all the deteriorating bridges in the Commonwealth). This is a much better choice than the outrageous toll hikes.

Why aren't there tolls for those coming into Boston on Route 93 from the north and the south? Everyone entering the city is using the big dig investment yet only a subset of divers must pay for it. You can drive from NH or RI in less time than it takes to get into Boston from Glouchester and not pay a toll. This is rediculus and unfair.
Why shouldn't there be tolls along the entire Mass Turnpike? Don't the revenues from big businesses that operate in this State because of its great infrastructure get shared with the entire State? Let's face it, Boston is the heart of this state's economy. Why stick it to a subset of folks using these roads who live around Boston?

Go for a substantial tax increase, and have the Commonwealth take over the bonds issued by the Turnpike Authority. Dismantle the Turnpike Authority. Stop all tolls and get rid of all tolltakers. Turn all maintenance over to the Department of Transportation and the State Highway Department.

Too many commuters into Boston get a free ride from North and South, while the western commuters get stung.

I think that the people who use those roads should be the ones to pay for them. I live in the western half of the state and I never go into Boston. Why should I have to pay a gas tax to fund a road that I will never use? Besides, these were built to make the commute less congested for the people who live and work in those areas. They use them, they should pay for them.

DiMasi's right. Now that the price of gas is way back down, it's a good time to raise the tax to encourage conservation and fuel efficiency. At $2.05 a gallon, we could raise the tax a nickel or more.

I also like Chris Matthews' idea of limiting the salaries of the auto companies' top execs to the same level as the President of the USA makes, if they are going to take any public money.

Okay, so I get it. Patrick says now is not the time to institute a "broad-based tax increase" by raising the gas tax because of the troubled economy and fixing the system/"simplifying the structure." But it's okay to take a minimum of an extra $1,200 out of my pocket because I live in the MetroWest area?

The structure was simplified before the Big Dig burden was rolled into the Turnpike and everyone that relies on the MassPike had to assume the Big Dig burden while other residents don't have to pay for the project.

What a scam. The price of gas drops and they try to float this BS through... 3 months ago people were pushing for a DROP in gas taxes because the prices were so high. The people that should pay for those tunnels and bridges should be the people that use them (TOLLS) not the people in other parts of the state that never use them!

Yes We Can! (tax the hell out of you, why shouldn't we? YOU voted NO on question 1!)

I TAKE THE MBTA AND THEY RECENTLY INCREASED MY PARKING $2 PER DAY SO WHY DOESN'T MASSACHUSETTS RAISE THE GAS TAX TO PAY THE MBTA THE MONEY THEY NEED INSTEAD OF ME HAVING TO PAY MORE FOR PARKING....YEAH THAT IS NOT GONNA HAPPEN SO WHY SHOULD I PAY MORE GAS TAX FOR SOMEBODY ELSE'S COMMUTE WHEN THEY WON'T PAY FOR MINE? BELIEVE ME, I KNOW IT STINKS TO HAVE THE PRICE OF YOUR COMMUTE INCREASED BUT IT IS HAPPENING TO EVERYONE SO WHY SHOULD I ESSENTIALLY GET WHACKED TWICE? PLUS IF I WERE TO USE THAT ROAD TEN I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE TOLL ANYWAY!

fairness???? fairness??? Are you kidding me. Make the people that have nothing to do with the big dig pay for it. I guess you have to be a politician from Boston to understand the concept

If they are going to keep tolls they should do it like they do in Illionis. All you do is drive on the highway at normal speed, says toll coming up, if you don't have a pass you get off to the right where the highway will go to 7 lanes wide, 3 right lanes for people with cash. The four left lanes have an overpass with cameras/lights/sensors etc so they take your toll while you're going 65mph. No traffic results and people are happy woo

Why Does DiMasi still have a job?

This should be part of the Mass Turnpike dissolution. The tolls are already inequitable, they can't in good conscience make it any worse.

Sorry.....I'll go w/ the toll hike....Why is this crook still in office?? Why should I Pay for the mistakes of people living in the city....just keep voting the crooks in.....this guy is a joke.

Is Patrick serious? "now may not be the time because of the faltering economy." So the faltering economy doesn't affect people who take the Pike? It makes no sense at all. A few cents state wide could take care of the revenue they need but they want ME personally to pay an extra $70 dollars a month to go to work? This has got to be a joke, does anyone in politics have ANY logic left? It just doesn't make sense....

not the right time for a tax increase but it is ok to stick it to people who have to take the tunnels into Boston 5 days a week?!?! You can't expect a small percentage of people to pay for a $90million deficit!!

The heck with this idea. Why should everyone pay for the turnpike when everyone doews not use it! Mr. DiMasi should pay for. We will remember this when it is election time.

Which proposal has a better chance of keeping the revenues dedicated to paying off the turnpikes instead of ending up in the general fund (trough).

Here is a crazy thought. Find out how many gallons of gas are used in MA each year. raise the gas tax to make up for the tolls. Close the tolls. lay off all of the MTA Problem solved. Now anyone getting gas in MA pays for the big dig. not just the unlucky people that drive the pike.

HOW IS THIS GUY EVEN STILL IN OFFICE WITH ALL HIS UNDER THE TABLE DEALS GOING ON HOOKING UP HIS FRIENDS? CAN'T WE GET RID OF HIM WITH WILKERSON & MARZELLI? GET ALL 3 OF THOSE CRIMINALS OUTTA OFFICE. BEAT IT!!! I DON'T USE THE DAM TUNNELS WHY THE HELL SHOULD I HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR GAS CUZ OF THE TURNPIKE AUTHORITY'S INEPT ABILITY TO RUN THEIR BUDGET???

DiMasi is an idiot. The gas tax should not go up. The tolls should be increased, and if you ask me, expanded on to toll those coming in from NH, RI and CT (I-91 for those of you who don't think MA extends past I-495). Raising the gas tax is foolish and nothing more than a reach in trying to responsibly solve the state's budget issues.

It's funny. They say we can't have another Depression. However, we have built up such an enormously useless government that when times get bad all they can think of is raising taxes to keep themselves afloat. Let's raise tolls $5 to pay for the bloated Turnpike Authority. But at that price no one will use the roads so toll revenues with continue to fall. So they'll just raise taxes somewhere else...and on and on....Depression here we come

While I am not in favor of any tax increase, I believe the toll increase is preferrable because people who access the toll roads typically have mass transit options where the gas tax will impact all people, even those without an alternative. Commuters can use the MBTA or other mass transit means to get to work thus reducing pollution and saving themselves on tolls.

The proposed new tolls amount to an absurd burden on a small proportion of citizens. All of our roads, tunnels and bridges should be maintained from the general revenue and/or the gas tax. The turnpike and new tunnels were not built so that some people could get to work more easily. Like all public infrastructure projects, they were built to aid the state's economy. They were built so that businesses would be able to function in and around our capital city. Tolls are a throwback to the Middle Ages. It's time to do away with the Turnpike authority and all the toll booths, and to fund our projects in a fair and modern manner.

This has nothing to do with Question 1. In fact, if you had voted for Question 1, the gas tax is exactly the type of thing that the state would be depending on, and raising, to make up the difference.

Please, Speaker of the House, explain to the Western Massachusetts citizens of the Commonwealth how a gas tax would be a "fairer way of sharing our cost" ? "The cost " has nothing to do with expenditures that benefit the residents Western Massachusetts. Why should we pay for it especially since we have to travel greater distances and consume more gas to get to work, school, the supermarket etc.? We have watched our bridges be closed because of a lack funds due to the "big dig" Why not turn a few more of the beltways into toll highways and build a few more tollbooths to raise the funds necessary to meet your Eastern Massachusetts transportation fiscal needs? THis sounds like a much more equitable way to solve the transportation fiscal crisis!

How are the people who dont use the tolls being burdened by an increase in the tolls. So instead we will spread the mismanagement of the turnpike to everyone who drives in MA. Real smart, Dimasi has got to go.

"j from cambridge" - why should I have to pay for the Big Dig if I don't use it? I go into Boston 4 to 6 times per year at most - if I use the bridges, tunnels, or the Pike, I pay a toll to contribute my share for the maintenance of the transportation infrastructure I use at the time. Otherwise, my current gasoline tax pays for the roads I use otherwise.

If you want to work in Boston, drive to the commuter rail or T-station and use public transportation. Otherwise, you and all others who put the daily wear and tear on the infrastructure going in and out of Boston should pay for their use.

The Democrats cry about people suffering under Bush and his recession. Now that they control both Massachusetts and US government, they are raising taxes, fees and tolls with abandon. I am waiting, and have not heard about the promised rebates for everyone making under $250K so these new taxes, fees and tolls are paid only by the RICH. It's only fair.

Keep voting Dems into office then complaing about increasing taxes......you can't have it both ways people!

Here's a thought! How about cut spending?

Why should a 'select few' carry the cost? Because a 'select few' use it!!! Should we all pitch in to pay your mortgage too? I'm sure you think so, being from the People's Republic.

Typical Eastern Mass response to their problems - charge the entire state to fund their excesses i.e. BIG DIiG. Those of us in the Western end of the state who do not use this boondoggle should not have to pay for it !!!!

Iar...you should pay because pay because whatever town you are in will not get state funding to fix your roads and bridges. I agree that they should have more cost cutting measures in place but if it's a case of the bridge I'm driving on collapsing or paying tolls/paying more gas tax, I'll take the latter. Yes, the big dig is a money pit, but it still needs to be finished

I hope everyone realizes the plan all along was to increase the gas tax... They just scared everyone to agreeing to a gas tax increase. Just like they scared people into the 700 billion dollar bailout, the auto bailour, the rejection of question 1, etc. etc.

They average person is an IDIOT. Let me see, 5% sales tax, 5.3% income tax, meals tax, hotel tax, excise tax, property taxes, fees, tolls, and they STILL DON'T have enough money.

IDIOTS absolute IDIOTS.

Tax the hell out of us morons. You ge what you voted for.

Let's tax the poor where it hurts...transportation! That makes sense. The gas tax is the most unfair tax going (next to the sales tax). Fans state that the tax is fair because it is basically a use tax...the more gas you use the more tax you spend. By definition, they say you must drive more than the rest. This is just not true.

First - the newer cars with more effecient motors (or even hybrids) are the most costly. Most people making less than $20K per year cannot afford these cars.

Second - who do you think is hurt more by an increase in gas prices - the person making $20K or $200K. I would wager it is the person making $20K. Keep in mind that if gas prices remain high - public transportation costs will have to adjust for this increase. This sort of tax is felt more by the working class families and the poor than the rich.

So, basically, if we support a higher gas tax - we are saying the working class and the poor should bear a greater burden for the big dig. So much for "redistribution"!

Don't get me wrong, I would prefer it over the toll hike as I may take the pike daily, but it doesn't seem like smart fiscal policy and is really just a short term fix. What happens if oil jumps back to $150/brl on the market and gas is at $4.50 a gal again? Would this even be suggested? Why doesn't the Gov contact Ted and ask for some fed support for this...it was his great idea to put the road underground. What a joke.

The gas tax seems fair to those of us who live in the greater Boston area, but very unfair to those who live in the Berkshires or the Pioneer Valley, especially since they never go to Logan Airport.

A hike of 9 cents per gallon (to raise $34 million per penny per year) would raise approximately $300 million per year and allow us to get rid of the turnpike authority altogether, not just address the Pike's shortfall. And that would just bring our gas tax up to where Rhode Island's is right now. At 30 cents it would still be far below the 43 cents per gallon of New York. With gas prices declining, now is the time to do this so it has less of an effect on people's bottom line.

The turnpike authority has been a perennial controversy ever since they went back on the promise to dissolve as soon as the original debt was paid off. And the turnpike authority spends twice as much per mile as MassHighway Department does. It is well worth 9 cents a gallon to make the TurnPike Authority go away for good.

Yes... why don't we not only continue charging already excessive tolls, but lets throw a gas tax ON TOP of that so that the burdon INCREASES nonetheless.... if there's a gas tax, it should be with the prerequisite that tolls come down

I opt for the toll increase - I think the garnered revenue has a better chance of being used for the intended purpose- to reduce the Turnpike Authority debt - I mistrust our legislative bretheren to keep their sticky fingers out of the till. I think of the tobacco setttlement some few years back that was to be used for an anti-smoking campaign - My suspicion is that much of that fund was used as a goody grab bag for pet projects and to mitigate the general funds perpetual shortfall

JD Moore - One problem---this tax is to pay for one past infrastucture project and would not be available for new projects in our life time. The state government is a joke with the Senate President leading the charge. Remember she opposed a moretoreum on the gas tax when gas proces jumped to $4.50. Aslo, I am not sure anout those states. Ever visit Fairfield County in CT or Winchester County in NY...Gas was alway 0.20 more per gal there.

The gas tax is fair, they are not looking for money for just the "Big Dig" they need money for the highway system for the whole state, which includes Western Mass. I think that making us in E. Boston pony up for the rest of the state is not fair at all. If you drive on any state road, you are benefiting from this increase it is for the Mass TURNPIKE which extends from Boston to the NY state border.. you drive, you pay..

All you "Demorats" need to stop complaining. You wanted no checks and balances...this is what you get. Is it good for you too? lol

Just wait to see what happens on the Federal level. Yes we can!

Increasing the gas tax is not just a fairer way to raise money to pay for a downtown Boston roadway system used as much by existing tollpayers and non-tollpayers alike. Increasing the price of gasoline sends an appropriate price signal, in-tune with goals of encouraging efficient use of energy, use of alternative transport modes, and behavior that reduces our use of imported oil and helps reduce global warming.

As far as sharing the costs, we need to consider who uses the infrastructure. If the Big Dig is for the benefit of metro-Boston, maybe the gas tax for gas stations within the 495 belt get the surcharge of the gas tax. However, many people outside of 495 use Logan International Airport. Just as you guys are getting the raw end of the deal, so too are the people that live right around the airport, those that have to pay the toll to get in and out of their communities. Those people have to share their community with your airport.

It's kind of like the casinos, someone can vote on a casino that might be 100 miles from them. We need to think about imact zones and decide if people get an equal vote on something for issues that they won't be impacted on.

Governments at the Federal, State, and Local level have to start to learn the terms "No Level Services". For far too long people have started with the level services baseline and then behind the scenes people add staff, add projects, add equipment, etc. The tax burden is too great so we have to cut services. The private sector gets a field and brush mower run over it with these recessions. The public sector never gets mowed down and after twenty five years you see people leaning on brooms getting 80 grand.

We need to cut government significantly. It is not government's job to do much of the scope we pay for.

No_Tax - He still has a job because the idiots in our state continue to vote for Dems who believe in tax and spend. Someone in this state should have spoken up to stop the big dig all together...it is a sorry project that has not save time for anyone who commutes into the city. Why not change 93 in Andove to be four lanes...widen the on/off ramps to 95/129 to two lanes...why not fix the split in Braintree...these projects could have really solved the traffic woes in this state for 1/3rd of the cost of the big "spend". Let's face it...Kennedy, Kerry, and all the state legislatures are in the pocked of unions and they wanted that project. You "the people of Mass" voted for these jokers and now you have to pay....

I can not get over how uninformed some of the opinions are on here!! The people that "blame" everyone else for voting no on question 1 need to do some research. Even if the income tax was eliminated, you'd be feeling the pinch elsewhere. Property taxes would rise, as would rents, school fees etc. Every city and town would see a severe cut in public services!

As for the toll hike versus gas tax. I'm all for a gas tax. Why should just a handful of people take on such a financial burden in such dire economic times? Is it really fair to expect the residents of Revere and Winthrop to pay hrough the nose, when a simple gas tax increase, amounting to less than $100 a year per person in the state??

Gov. Patrick and his cronies has no common sense or logic. If they are SO concerned about doing something like raising the gas tax during such difficult times then the toll hike should be axed as well!!

I'm not fan of DiMasi, but it's about time someone proposes a gas tax increase. I don't even pay any tolls, but they're are an inefficient collection mechanism. I recall the overhead being at around 30% of revenue vs. less than 1% for the gas tax.

The Turnpike Authority doesn't need to exist. All the roads should be rolled into the Highway Department and paid for with the gas tax. It's far more equitable than anything else -- the more you drive, the more you pay.

So some people pay more with a gas tax increase, but overall, the state benefits from reduced overhead (read: not paying for toll collectors, systems, and maintenance). And the commuters from the west have been getting the shaft for years.

The Democrats cry about people suffering under Bush and his recession. Now that they control both Massachusetts and US government, they are raising taxes, fees and tolls with abandon. I am waiting, and have not heard about the promised rebates for everyone making under $250K so these new taxes, fees and tolls are paid only by the RICH. It's only fair.

Democrat's will reap what they sow. Whoever voted for a legislator with a D next to their name should have their head examined. If Jim Jones was a Democrat and told these imbecile's to drink the Kool Aid they would drink up and ask for more. Your all a bunch of idiots!

Get rid of the turnpike authority altogether to make this work. There are $20 million a year in cost savings just by eliminating the overhead of the turnpike authority.

If the people of Massachusetts really want to laugh they should read the statement of the Senate President, Therese Murray regarding the resignation of another upstanding politician, Diane Wilkerson.
In the informal speech she mentions what prompts her to get up in the morning to go to the State House and here is a small section of her speech...

But, on behalf of the Senate, I want to express my deepest belief that the moral fiber of this body is strong and unbending, and we will continue to serve our constituents and the people of the Commonwealth with great pride and conviction.

Who is this woman trying to fool. The only reason our glorious politicians get up in the morning is to get to the money pit called The State House. Then instead of using their God given brains to resolve financial matters they take the easy way out and pile on the taxes even more.

This is no time to be raising any taxes. Let the state borrow the money if they need to pay off some of the contractors on the big dig. We can only hope that the Feds come through with a federal indictment for DiMasi. He just isn't happy enough lining his pockets via back door deals, now he wants to raise taxes on the citizens of Massachusetts so the legislature can have more of our money to waste. Another instance of the fat cats screwing up financially, without penalty to themselves. They are just as bad at managing as the CEOs of Detroit & Wall St. yet they face no consequences. His District needs to force a recall. Throw the Bums out.

I CANT TAKE THIS ANYMORE! I'M HAVING A HARD ENOUGH TIME AS IT IS AND THE STATE WANTS MORE OF MY MONEY. I DON'T CARE IF GAS IS AT 1.99. ANYONE WHO THINKS IT WILL STAY AT OR BE BELOW 1.99 A YEAR TO 4 YEARS FROM NOW IS SADLY MISTAKEN. I'VE HAD ENOUGH AND ANYONE ELSE

Peolpe,

Let us get some things straight:
1) People who drive east/west never use the big dig.....ever
2) Commuter rail and MBTA east/west is not good. They do not run enough and the time is long because MBTA does not own the tracks
3) The Mass pike tolls were set up to pay for the mass pike, not the big dig
4) People in Springfield use the big dig as much as someone who commutes
For the people who say they should not have to pay a gas tax because they do not live in Boston/don't use the Big Dig....I agree but do not just throw the east/west commuters under the bus! This is a statewide problem that needs to be solved statewide

For all the crying about taxes in 'Taxachusetts', Mass is actually in the bottom half of states as far as state taxation per person. I love people who don't let the facts get in the way of a good whine-fest.
A gas tax is the fairest solution. Folks seem to think "Great, gas prices are low, I can do more driving (i.e. make more pointless trips in the car)". How about you drive as if gas was still $4, accept a 5-10 cent gas tax, and be grateful for the money you're still saving.

2 points.

1) If you truly want fair and the Big Dig is the problem, raise tolls on that portion.

2) Like the Big Three, if the Turnpike can't close their books, why is the state paying toll booth collection $70k while school teachers get less than $50k??!

Better plan. Raise the gas tax 9 cents inside 128 since they're more likely to use the Big Dig. Raise it 6 cents between 128 and 495, and raise it 3 cents everywhere else. From now on the gas tax will not go into the General fund and can only be used on roads, not pet projects. Gas tax revenues can only be used in the area they are collected, so Boston cannot use revenues from the Berkshires to pay for the Big Dig. That is the fairest way.

Well everyone who voted for the Democrats, this is what you wanted and now you got it. When will the people of Massachusetts learn and vote these jerks out of office ? People will just go to NH where they buy everything else without a sales tax and now the increased gas tax . Maybe DiMasi should let a casino open and the state would get that 90-100+ million guranteed every year

I would support a gas tax increase ONLY if part of it goes towards the MBTA.. The MBTA just doubled their parking, and there was no talk of raising the gas tax when that happened.. Between me and my wife we are currently paying the MBTA over $5,000 a year to travel a distance of less than 15 miles. I don't think the toll rates should be increased, but I also know that MBTA fares and parking have been too high for a long time now.

Now that gas prices have dropped, this is a great time to put a tax of $1-2/gallon and create a special tax on cars that get less than 30mph. And institute a "one car per family" policy (100% tax on purchase price of second vehicle). Hang on...I need to refill my crack pipe and my SUV.

Isn't Sal going to jail?

No new taxes. The hacks on Beacon Hill should be happy Question One didn't pass. But we get another chance in two years.

A little history:

DiMasi was opposed to the Big Dig. His constituents paid the price for years with noise, dirt, and rat infestations. Now they have to pay $7 to get to the airport to pay for it? Of course he's for the gas tax; he is representing his constituents. You don't get re-elected by ignoring the concerns of your constituents.

Taxachussetts..... this is ridiculous..... If only the Politicians some of us have elected , would allow FULL casinos to get A LOT of revenue and leave the hard working middle class alone. The Speaker is in way too much power! Deval...step up!
First the people of the state do not vote to reduce the income tax because they are bullied and people scare them about property taxes and stuff. Hello PROP 2.5 protects that!!
Then you legalize partial Mary Jane..... Just legalize it and tax it!!!!
Number #3. you vote to get rid of dog racing so 1000+ lose their job and the state LOSES more tax revenue.....
This state is crazy. The Republic should be its own state so all the liberals can stay together and tax each other right out of life.....stay over there...

obama will save us...

Sal,

Thank you for proposing the unthinkable. I know no one likes to pay taxes, but we all need to do our part.

Who gets punished if oil/gas demand drops?!?!?! Producers!!! These are countries that produce some of the world's worst regimes. Russia, Iran, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Chad, Sudan, and Venezuela.

Even within the US, I think it's clear that Texas and Alaska have produced some terrible leaders.

why isn't Sal in jail for funnelling money to friends? Oh yes, this is Massachusetts. That's why.

Speaker DiMasi is correct on this one.

First of all what makes any of you think a gas tax increase would go to pay off the big dig or fix our roads and bridges in the first place? It goes into the Taxachusettes general fund and the polls do what they want with it. Why don't we ask DiMasi if he pay's for his gasoline or tolls? But lets face it in MA we will get both sooner or later because it's not our money it's the politicians money. And questions 1 wouldn't have helped because the people don't run the state the Speaker has and always will. Remember when we voted to return the tax rate to 5% from the temporary increase. Nothing would have happened it would have simply been ignored.

wow...not one comment that I can find that talks about how to attract businesses here to increase the number of people paying taxes and bringing jobs back. The higher the taxes go, the more businesses leave to go elsewhere. You people thinking more taxes is the answer - have you thought about when it ends??? You trust these idiots in the state house to find a way out. you dont think there is $90MM in waste in all of the special interests and ridiculous benefits of state workers. You are all as dumb as the legislators. I am out of this state...

They should have a $3.00 a gallon gas tax - I can't believe that all you losers are crying about a dime. Everybody wants to drive their hummers around and nobody wants to pay to fill the potholes in the roads or fix the bridges. We're rapidly turning into a third world country - everybody wants a free ride. Free ride's over folks.

Another thing not mentioned is that about 1% of the gas tax goes to administering the tax, unlike turnpike tolls, which cost 30% to administer thanks to the big money toll takers. So, much more of a gas tax increase would go directly into roads, making it a far wiser choice for this reason, among others.

All of you 'fair tax' people who think the money from a gas tax increase will pay for infrastructure improvements should check out the annual minutes from your regional planning commission. According to Mass Highway documents, in 2007, as in almost every year since 1994, only Federal gas tax monies were spent on the highway infrastructure in Mass...about $500 million in 2007. Mass contributed about $90 million, of which $110 million went towards Big Dig obligations....So, effectively, no Mass gas tax money was spent on any Massachusetts road or bridge. And oh, btw, Massachusetts took in about $750 MILLION in gas tax revenue in 2007. Maybe Sal should tell us where the other $660 million is being spent, before emptying our pockets again.

Please email and write you reps and senators- make sure this increase in the gas tax does not go to fund the complete boondoggle of a project, the southcoast rail. Our leaders have to kill this pet project of our Governor if not we will be paying billions of dollars to fund this line for the benefit of a few constituents. The viability of such a project has to be questioned when it will cost over 300 dollars a month at todays rates for somebody to commute via this line to the city from New Bedford and Fall River. There is no way this is an affordable commuting option. Also is the gas tax going to fund transit services (MBTA) as well as highway or just highway. . According to a high level official the Governor is still planning this project.

remove the turnpike tolls and set up new tolls at the tunnels from the north and south and coming into the tunnel from the pike

@shogan:First, all the projects you mention would be useful, but you obviously do not drive into Boston on a regular basis. Numerous studies have shown the commuting time going through downtown on 93 being cut from 17 minutes to 2 minutes. The commute from Randolph into Boston has been cut to an average of 1/2 hr from 1.5hrs in 2000. In order to reduce traffic, we absolutely needed to replace the green monster elevated. Yes, the overruns were ridiculous, but a bit of history: Kerry and Kennedy supported it, but it was Tip O'Neil who really pushed it.. Being deal makers, Reagan said O'Neil could have the federal money as long as the same incompetent criminals that are rebuilding Iraq- Bechtel- get the contract. Then we had 20 yrs of Republican governors giving ththe project no oversight. It was Romney who, just 2 months before the collapse, passed a federal study on safety over to the Turnpike authority, stacked w/ hacks.

Would all the Pike users stop crying about tolls. If you want to use that road, you have to pay for it. We already pay an excise tax in this state for use of the roads. Stop trying to get the government to raise our taxes (gas) because of issues with the pike. There are other roads into Boston if you don't like paying for the Turnpikes problems.

Diamasi should go with Wilkerson out the door, fraud! How about generating some taxes with gaming??? Oh no, that money should go to CT.

It pains me to say it , I hate the lying, corrupt, gangster moron DiMasi and especially his defense attorney pal O'Flaherty more than anyone, but the Speaker is right here. Many people, no matter where they live, would get whacked by a $7 barrier between the airport and downtown. Cabbies would pass this on to tourists, business people, etc, it would substantially hurt the economy, which is dependent on Boston. I dont think too many people would be going over for pizza at santarpios paying $7 to get back, so small business as well! Though I agree w/Patrick in that we should make all reforms, including getting rid of the MTA all together before doing this, it is preferable to a toll increase. First, we have one of the lowest gas taxes in the country, and second, it is the most economically efficent tax out there. Why? It is taxing a negative externality, pollution, and giving us revenue in the process. This is the closest we can come to a free lunch in economics- there is almost no deadweight loss in productive activity that we get from taxing income or consumption. In other words, discouraging gas consumption is good, while discouraging income earning and consumption is most certainly not.By doing this, we accomplish a central goal, reducing the demand for oil, which will help push us to alternative forms of energy. As demand falls, gas prices will fall by the amount the tax was increased, so it is very unlikely our sticker price at the pump will be changed at all. I reiterate, I trust Patrick alot more on this than Dimasi, and we should really only do even the gas tax as a last resort, but if this is necessary, make no mistake, it is a hell of a lot better than a toll increase.

With a gax tax, everybody pays for roads according to how heavily they travel. No money is spent paying toll collectors, no time is wasted in slowdowns at toll booths. The higher gas price gives people an incentive to be less wasteful. I'm in favor!

John Kerry said the Big Dig would be a "bargain". Mike Dukasis gave us a "lead pipe guarantee" that the sales tax would not go up - I think it was 2 or 3% at the time he said that. Well, there you go. The only answer they have in Massachusetts is always to continue to scam the taxpayor. There is never any other answer. This is why people are moving out of here. You can keep voting for these Democratic thieves all you want, the rest of the people are voting with their feet. Massachusetts was the only state in the last census to lose population. Why don't we just go to Washington and ask for a bailout.

I am already overstretched to pay for those drive Mercedes while living in low income housing and collecting Food Stamps. Why should I pay more for the big dig mess?? Just NOT fair!!!!

SHOULD HAVE VOTED TO ELIMINATE THE STATE INCOME TAX, NOW THE SCUM ON BEACON HILL WILL MAKE US ALL SORRY! DIMASI IS A DAM CROOK IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE. HE VOTED AGAINST CASINO'S BECAUSE HE PERSONALLY DIDN'T WANT THEM. GET DIMASI OUT!

So the folks on the frontier outside of 495 can untwist their knickers: the cost of maintaining the interstates and state highways are borne by the entire Commonwealth, including all the roads out west which us city kids never use, ever, not even to go the airport (OK, maybe Tanglewood). If you're that worried about the Big Dig and the Boston tunnels, which the vast majority of the state have a direct (and beneficial) impact from, ask us to take our ball and go home and we'll roll up the roads out of your way and you can get around on sleighs and canoes. Our real options are taxes, gas taxes, or tolls. Pick your poison.

Funny how no mention is made of cutting costs like the salaries of all those overpaid legislators and state house staff.
Or how about cutting all those cushy state pensions by 10%-15%?
Or how about cutting back on all those courthouse jobs?
And how about cutting back on the high union pay scales paid on every state constuction and road job?

No more Gas Tax!
Raise the tolls, you use the roads, pay for them.
Other parts of the state received zero money for years due to the big dig and now we are being asked to subsidize the roads again?
Get rid of the crooks and let people pay as they go.

I live in the Berkshires and only use the Pike 2 or 3 times a year, and only go into Boston once a year at most. Why should people in Central and Western Mass., The Cape, or Northern Mass. pay for commuters in Boston? If a Gas Tax goes into effect, it should only be for the counties surrounding Metropolitan Boston. Gas Tax is Unfair!

First, I live in Western Mass and rarely, if ever, travel to Boston. The Big Dig never has and never will benefit the commuters here in Western Mass, so why should we be burdened with a tax increase on gas? From what I remember the Boston area was so excited about the benefits of the Big Dig during the begining of the project. Now those who benefit the most from the road should be the ones who are burdened to pay for it not those who don't use it.

Secondly, Some one correct me if I'm wrong, but even if we did vote yes on question one, that would not have effective the sales tax, just the income tax. Am I wrong? (I might be, )

Why is it either/or?

Nationally, gas taxes are too low and the state's gas tax is below average. Raise it. It's good policy to make gas consumption more costly.

But tolls are a Use Tax - it's fair, so that also makes sense. People who drive on Big Dig roads should pay more.

Let's do both.

There's a reason we call it "Taxachusetts," we have a reputation to live upto so let's go folks open up the wallets and pony up, the gas tax because I sure as heck would not feel very well about paying seven bucks to travel 3/4 mile through the sumner tunnel.