Gas tax is worth
thinking about
John Firehammer makes a good point in his letter of June 14. Obviously, any additional tax on gasoline or whatever else is going to be painful. John asks us to "think about this." The more I think about it, the more I think John left out a few things in his discussion of transportation costs. The big increase in my gasoline bill has been related more to the price of gasoline itself than to the gasoline tax. This increase in gasoline price comes with no benefit to the consumer. It's the same product we bought a couple years ago at half the price.
On the other hand, a gasoline tax increase would at least help maintain the quality of our road system, reduce the cost of vehicle repairs and avoid the increases in property taxes that we've experienced when other programs have been underfunded. After spending 25 years living and working in countries where road travel is a real adventure, I have been mightily impressed with the extensive, well-maintained road system in out state. We get good value from tax revenues directed to maintaining this transportation system so essential to our economy.
Perhaps most relevant to the cost of transportation is our continuing high level of inefficient consumption and dependence on gasoline produced from foreign oil. The party to which both John and I belong has not been effective in dealing with these aspects of our energy costs.
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On the other hand, the legislator whom John criticizes has a much better record of working toward conservation of energy and development of alternate fuels. It would be asking a lot for a first-term legislator to have turned around our state or national energy policy, but that's where concerted effort is required to keep transportation costs within reason. Brita's record demonstrates she recognizes the priority that must be given to these long-term solutions. As John concludes, "think about this."
William D. Bair
Park Rapids
