Sounds like Washington is getting a fancy new gas tax.

Kinja'd!!! by "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
Published 01/08/2017 at 01:00

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This is basically the carbon tax that was on the ballot last November. It got voted down so now they made a few changes and are introducing it straight to the legislature to bypass the voters.

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It works out to a 10% fuel tax calculated after the federal taxes so you get to pay taxes on your taxes. It also adjusts for inflation every year and adds 3.5% just for fun.

The tax is also on fuel for heating and power as well as aviation fuel. The only industries immune are the aluminum, concrete, and agriculture(not including crop transport). The tax isn’t even going towards infrastructure but education.

The best part is that they even admit that poor people will be the hardest hit. But don’t worry they are earmarking 250 million dollars for clean mass transit so the poors can give up their cars and ride the bus.

God damn it Washington.


Replies (29)

Kinja'd!!! "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
01/08/2017 at 01:05, STARS: 2

They don’t give two shits about the common man, let alone the poor. All they want is that sweet uppity transplant money and gentrification.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 01:12, STARS: 2

I’ve only lived out here about a year and a half and am starting to regret it. I had no idea the government was this backwards. Its just one story after another about taxes.

Kinja'd!!! "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
01/08/2017 at 01:17, STARS: 0

I’ve lived here my entire life. I love the weather, the scenery, and of course Teriyaki on every corner. There are many things I don’t love, but I don’t think the grass will be greener for me somewhere else.

Kinja'd!!! "someassemblyrequired" (someassemblyrequired)
01/08/2017 at 01:23, STARS: 1

Luckily DOA with a republican majority senate. Though it does piss me off that progressives only policy idea in Washington State seems to be taxes that fall disproportionately on lower income folks, with a large slice of BS funding for something that will make the rich feel good, but actually does nothing for the working class, or worse yet, is a complete waste of money. And the McCleary thing makes me crazy mad - I see insane amounts spent on new schools and sports facilities. Who cares if the classroom is 50 years old? It’s a classroom, they haven’t changed much. Do you really need professional level facilities for every sport (and all the expensive land that entails)? Are portables/split-shifts really that bad in a fast growing area (where the number of school-age kids will drop sharply as families age)? The needs are miscalibrated - you just need good teachers and a space. Everything else is a luxury.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 01:26, STARS: 0

As someone who grew up in “red” rural areas in the midwest and then moved to Denver, I thought it was bad. Then I moved out here for the exact reasons you stated( Teriyaki shops were unknown to me) and found it to be even worse. I used to laugh at all the King County/Seattle crap because I don’t live there but the statewide stuff is no good.

There are so many awesome things about this state that there is bound to be some bad.

Ps. I have recently discovered the Teriyaki shops and now struggle with the cravings.

Kinja'd!!! "fintail" (fintail)
01/08/2017 at 01:27, STARS: 6

Most regressive taxation in the country. But it works well for all of the money launderer/real estate speculators pouring in, and well-pensioned oldsters.

I love the greenie hypocrite leadership in the PNW. Preach for everyone to submit to transit and shoebox apartments, but they will keep their private cars and nice old houses in Magnolia and Bellevue they bought for a pittance a generation ago, thank you very much. And you can pay more taxes to pay for their guilt and platinum bennies.

Kinja'd!!! "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
01/08/2017 at 01:29, STARS: 0

Give into the cravings, my friend. Give in.

Kinja'd!!! "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
01/08/2017 at 01:31, STARS: 2

I had a client that recently described a $700,000 2 bedroom house he sold in north Seattle as “affordable housing for the common man.” I suppose compared to the average Seattle house closing price, he’s not wrong. But “affordable?” “Common man?” No.

Kinja'd!!! "The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
01/08/2017 at 01:35, STARS: 0

Sounds like Ontario.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 01:36, STARS: 0

Tried one for the very first time about 6 months ago. So tasty, and accessible, and affordable.

Kinja'd!!! "fintail" (fintail)
01/08/2017 at 01:41, STARS: 0

It’d be interesting to know his background - obviously not Horatio Alger. And I am sure for that money you get a 4500 sq ft lot, outdoor parking, and no AC.

Affordable if you’re a corrupt low level overseas official buying your way in, if mom and dad are fronting a 50% down payment, or maybe one of the lucky couples with 100K+ incomes apiece (who often are the ones who have received parental aid). What a market for the common man. The fabled and obsolete American dream is a tough row to hoe here.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 01:41, STARS: 1

It seems that everybody just wants to outdo one another and get a pat on the back regardless of cost.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 01:42, STARS: 1

It sounds like I wouldn’t like Ontario.

It’s only a matter of time until they tax the Jukes.

Kinja'd!!! "Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
01/08/2017 at 01:42, STARS: 1

And I am sure for that money you get a 4500 sq ft lot, outdoor parking, and no AC.

Right again.

Kinja'd!!! "GUYMANDUDE" (guymandudebro)
01/08/2017 at 01:50, STARS: 0

Alberta just did this.

Kinja'd!!! "fintail" (fintail)
01/08/2017 at 01:50, STARS: 0

Soon to be parked in front of the box on a postage stamp, one of two extremes - a Prius, or a Macan/SQ5. I guess any Subaru might fit in too, gotta look like a local.

In terms of surroundings and environment, I still think this is the best place to live out of everywhere I’ve set foot - but when I retire in 250 years, I’ll probably go elsewhere. Now more than ever, if my employer said we’re shipping out, I might not cry.

Kinja'd!!! "The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock" (jukesjukesjukes)
01/08/2017 at 01:55, STARS: 1

I can’t stand it here, so many damn taxes. I would not mind it if they were spend on things that mattered, but they are not.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 02:05, STARS: 1

Same here. I wouldn’t be as opposed to the taxes if they went to functional programs, but they mostly go to “feel good” programs.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 02:05, STARS: 0

It sounds like its going to be a popular thing to do.

Kinja'd!!! "GUYMANDUDE" (guymandudebro)
01/08/2017 at 02:16, STARS: 2

Unfortunately, as long as they can get away with it. Politicians will cash in on anything they can.

Kinja'd!!! "victor" (victor)
01/08/2017 at 02:28, STARS: 0

Well, people are coming here because the economy is booming. And pretty much all the economically booming places in the US right now are relatively blue.

Kinja'd!!! "slipperysallylikespenguins" (slipperysally)
01/08/2017 at 02:38, STARS: 0

Yep, I think that primarily comes down to the tech companies which sprout in blue areas.

Kinja'd!!! "6Cylinder" (nickestes)
01/08/2017 at 03:19, STARS: 1

Are you fucking serious?...

Kinja'd!!! "this is not matt farah's foxbodymiata" (fantastic-mr-foxbody)
01/08/2017 at 04:07, STARS: 0

Yeah fuck those lazy entitled children, education doesn’t matter

Kinja'd!!! "bhtooefr" (bhtooefr)
01/08/2017 at 05:35, STARS: 2

I actually do think that a carbon tax on gasoline’s a good idea, but you need to offset it with a progressive income tax to offset the regressive effects of it.

Kinja'd!!! "Svend" (svend)
01/08/2017 at 06:14, STARS: 1

This is roughly what we’re paying in the U.K.

Kinja'd!!!

I wouldn’t mind if it was put back into infrastructure but it isn’t (a very small amount is but far more goes into public transport but even then it’s not a large percentage). Even then they have reduced the amount councils can use for infrastructure.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/potholes-repair-bill-14-billion-tipping-point-2017-a7513586.html

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‘It is wrong and unfair that the Government allocates almost 40 times more to maintaining national roads, which it controls, compared with local roads, which are overseen by councils’

Councils have warned that 2017 could be a “tipping point” for tackling potholes.

Analysis by the Local Government Association (LGA) showed the bill for repairing roads in England and Wales could reach £14bn within two years.

This is several times more than councils’ entire annual revenue spending on highways and transport, which was £4.4bn in England during 2016.

Statistics from the Asphalt Industry Alliance (AIA) show the amount needed to repair roads rose from £9.8bn in 2012 to £11.8bn last year.

To reverse this trend the LGA has called for the Government to inject a further £1bn a year into roads maintenance, which it claimed could be achieved by investing two pence per litre of existing fuel duty without increasing pump prices.

LGA transport spokesman Martin Tett said: “This year could be a tipping point year regarding potholes.

“Councils have experienced significant budget reductions and now face the looming prospect of a bill of £14bn to bring the nation’s roads up to scratch.

“It is wrong and unfair that the Government allocates almost 40 times more to maintaining national roads, which it controls, compared with local roads, which are overseen by councils. It is paramount this funding discrepancy is swiftly plugged.”

Kinja'd!!! "Kanaric" (Kanaric1)
01/08/2017 at 13:17, STARS: 1

“But don’t worry they are earmarking 250 million dollars for clean mass transit so the poors can give up their cars and ride the bus.”

This has been the goal for the upper classes for quite a while.

For example the media going after the Nissan Tsuru being sold in Mexico. It’s a car poor people can actually afford new. Poor people are buying horribly old cars that are falling apart, and they report it’s a bad thing that they can buy a fresh one because “safety”.

This you have this carbon tax you are talking about.

I used to be a left-progressive but their priority stack simply does not include poor people, it’s all first world problems and social issues. They basically invited trump into the white house with a red carpet with this thinking and if you look at the media and the demcorats it hasn’t changed at all, they are still the champions of suburb liberals with 1st world problems. Shit like a carbon tax over making sure the poor can afford to drive is the king of 1st world problems. They then wonder why countries like Nigeria or China don’t want left-wing western governments telling them they can’t build their industry.

Kinja'd!!! "G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3" (gbodyman)
01/08/2017 at 15:26, STARS: 0

Could be worse. At least it’s on taxes so the sting isn’t immediately at the pump, and you guys still won’t be paying $4.50 a gallon for regular (BC FTL).

Kinja'd!!! "Eric @ opposite-lock.com" (theyrerolling)
01/19/2018 at 14:44, STARS: 0

I’ve been here 5 years and seen enough of the change to question what I saw in this place (aside from more readily available jobs, fabulous weather, and taxes that affect me less). If I had it to do over, I would have held out for Alaska, which was my original target (work in my field is very hard to find there).

The funny thing is that more taxes here are carefully hidden so you don’t realize they’re there until you need/want to do something. Because we’ve somehow staved off an income tax all these years, governments resort to the shadiest methods I’ve ever seen to increase taxes. Crazy car registration tax schemes, gas taxes, property taxes (which are quite high), hidden oddball taxes (I pay $150/month for the minimum amount of WATER in a place where we generally have the opposite of shortages, because it’s the only way the city can increase our taxes without a vote... Also absolutely unreal local taxes on various utilities.), and high sales taxes that higher-income people avoid by ordering things online.

It’s a crazy situation all around.