NEWS
Governors push regional gas tax as states battle COVID-19 pandemic — Small businesses and consumers likely to suffer under increased gasoline taxes and energy costs
“I am deeply concerned that Wolf’s proposed RGGI and TCI taxes will be harmful to my constituents and the citizens of Pennsylvania.”
Senator Kim Ward, Majority Chair of the Pennsylvania Senate Transportation Committee - Opinion
“The burden this legislation will place on working families is on par with the vote to establish a state income tax or sales tax. It’s that significant.”
Paul Diego Craney, Mass. Fiscal Alliance on a bill that includes authorization of TCI in that state
“Despite claims from supporters, cap-and-trade programs like RGGI and TCI do little to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Even worse, they are regressive taxes.”
The Heartland Institute / Read the full article
“Before Massachusetts goes too far down the TCI road, burdens its motorists and adds unnecessary and economically damaging costs to the delivery of packages, food and other goods and services with another gas tax, isn’t it the responsibility of [Mass. government leaders] to consider our new work from home reality and the corresponding economic and public health benefits?”
Boston Herald / Read Full Article
“In reality, [TCI] is nothing more than a poorly disguised gas tax that will have literally no environmental benefit. And it’s a bad idea at any time but especially now, as the country struggles to recover from the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.”
Washington Examiner Opinion / Read Full Article
“This initiative, if enacted, would institute a new gas tax by up to 17 cents per gallon while only achieving minimal results. This program is a financial boondoggle and the people of New Hampshire will never support it.”
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu / Read Full Article
“Pandemic clouds progress on climate change legislation”
“I am happy to see that other Governors are following my lead in rightfully sounding the alarm on this new gas tax.”
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on TCI / Read Full Article
“There doesn’t seem to be a whole lot of support for the concept, at least that I see now. “
Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo / Read Full Article
“The people who are really going to be hit hard as a result of this are people who are driving into Boston every day, day-to-day workers, people driving for Uber, Lyft for work. They’re going to see dramatic increases.”
William Burke, director of research for The Beacon Hill Institute For Public Policy / Read Full Article
The costs of Massachusetts partaking in the TCI far outweigh the benefits
Beacon Hill Study / Read Full Article JANUARY 2020
“This is a class issue for us. This is a regressive funding move and the Vermont AFL-CIO is against more regressive funding for social or environmental programs. We don’t need workers paying more to get to their job sites.”
President of the Vermont AFL-CIO David Van Deusen / Read Full Article