CLT News Release
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
CLT opposes TCI
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 17, 2019
Contact: Chip Ford, Executive Director
Citizens
for Limited Taxation endorses and is a participant in the coalition of
businesses and other citizens' and taxpayers' organizations in states
that would be effected by the proposed multi-state compact to impose a
so-called Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI). A multi-state
assault demands a multi-state response.
Our
multi-state opposition to this scheme is detailed in our joint TCI Open
Letter, a copy of which can be found
here.
Beyond
the specific points made in our opposition document, Citizens for
Limited Taxation reminds Bay State policymakers that Massachusetts has a
spending problem, not a shortage of revenue, when addressing its
transportation situation. Massachusetts has the funds to do much more
before looking to hike taxes, if spent more wisely.
According
to the most recent report on state highway spending (24th
Annual Highway Report, August, 2019), Massachusetts total spending
per lane-mile was 304% greater than national average:
|
Capital and Bridges Disbursements per State-Controlled
Lane-Mile |
|
Massachusetts |
$92,972 |
|
New Hampshire |
$27,822 |
|
National Average |
$36,681 |
|
Maintenance Disbursements per State-Controlled Lane-Mile |
|
Massachusetts |
$25,033 |
|
New Hampshire |
$17,951 |
|
National Average |
$11,929 |
|
Administrative Disbursements per State-Controlled Lane-Mile |
|
Massachusetts |
$23,950 |
|
New Hampshire |
$5,260 |
|
National Average |
$4,501 |
|
Total Disbursements (including bond principal and interest,
etc.)
per State-Controlled Lane Mile |
|
Massachusetts |
$216,066 |
|
New Hampshire |
$64,176 |
|
National Average |
$71,117 |
|
Source: Reason Foundation, August 22, 2019, "24th Annual
Highway Report" https://reason.org/wp-content/uploads/24th-annual-highway-report-2019.pdf |
Chip
Ford, Executive Director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, said:
"Before looking to extract even more from motorists, first the governor
and state legislators need to bring the state's exorbitant, excessive
highway spending costs more in line with other states, with the national
average. Before looking to further increase the financial burden on its
citizens, Beacon Hill policymakers first need to convincingly lower
Massachusetts' ranking as the nation's 48th most profligate state in
spending on highway infrastructure."
Perhaps
most importantly, Bay State policymakers should have learned from the
2014 Question 1 ballot question — repeal of the unaccountable "automatic
gas tax hikes" which passed by a vote of 53%-47% — that if any tax is to
be raised it should be done only by a public vote of those elected to
represent their constituents, and to whom they are accountable.
"Covert
tax hikes by whatever inscrutable scheme have been rejected by the
citizens," added Chip Ford. "'TCI' is no different."
#
# #
Citizens for Limited Taxation ▪ PO
Box 1147 ▪ Marblehead, MA 01945
▪ (781) 639-9709
