Wed
Apr 29 2009
09:22 pm
By: loveofcountry

A House subcommittee has quietly approved legislation that would provide for automatic increases in Tennessee's gasoline tax in the future, based on the consumer price index.

Why would the Tennessee GOP want to increase the tax gasoline right now with families hurting economically? At some point in the future when true fuel alternatives exist maybe there should be discussions as how to encourage people to switch to other energy sources, but right now is not the right time. Wasn’t the GOP just pushing for the elimination of the gas tax during the last election?

I fail to see the

I fail to see the bi-partisan part of this bill. Yes, a democrat introduced a bill to end a specialty license plate, but the unrelated gas amendment was by the GOP. I don't see how anyone can blame Democrat Rep. Bill Harmon for the GOP's tax raising amendment. Sneaky, yes, by the GOP.

Ok, I'll give you

Ok, I'll give you bi-partisan under the GOP controlled House and Senante.

I'll give you the veil of

I'll give you the veil of bi-partisanship under the GOP controlled house and senate. The use of “caption bills” to beat the deadline then totally change the topic of the bill seems squirrelly at best, but that must be how Nashville works.

Roads are important in Tennessee. How much would the diesel bill affect Tennesseans over out-of-state trucking companies coming through TN?

Abolish the Sandhill Crane

Abolish the Sandhill Crane license plate? What are they thinking?

From license plates to a gas

From license plates to a gas tax, oh, how bills get twisted.

One of the annual joys

of our RiverKeeping days were the boat trips from our base in Sale Creek upriver to the Hiwassee River confluence to view the Sandhill Cranes. We took numerous visitors up there, and all were awestruck by their numbers, beauty and gracefulness.

While we no longer make the annual boat trip, we do have the advantage of living on their flyway. Their unique trill as they fly over the farm in the Fall migration always causes us to stop work and look skyward. In the Spring when they fly the other way, we always feel a sense of loss, like you would if a good neighbor moved away.

Given the gems of legislative initiatives this session, the answer to your question might be that thinking is not something our state legislators do on a regular basis.

Living and teaching Earth friendly sustainable agricultural practices.

I heard a promo for a story

I heard a promo for a story on the news yesterday morning, but didn't get to hear the story. It was about a mileage tax...has anyone else heard about that. It sound as though you will have to pay taxes at the gas pump as well as on how many miles you drive....that should really help the economy. I know I would curtail my "fun" trips if it would cost me even more in the long run.
What about people who have to travel. Before my mother passed away, I made at least one trip a day, sometimes more to Oak Ridge to care for her. Lots of people are caring for family members and have to be on the road.

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Lost Medicaid Funding

To date, the failure to expand Medicaid / TennCare has cost the State of Tennessee ? in lost federal funding.