Story Created:
Apr 8, 2008
Story Updated:
Apr 8, 2008
From WisPolitics REPORT, 4/4/08, Quotes of the Week
Raising taxes is never an easy decision. For the good of the country, we have to make this investment.
- Transportation Secretary Frank Busalacchi, a member of the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission, testifying before a House Appropriations subcommittee. Busalacchi pitched the commission’s plan to gradually raise the federal gas tax by 25 cents to 40 cents a gallon. Busalacchi argued, “Our (national) infrastructure is in terrible condition. We're dealing with it every day in Wisconsin.”
Savvy listener emails:
Gas is $3.50 a gallon and Jim Doyle’s DOT Secretary is out in Washington DC testifying in favor of a 25 to 40 cent a gallon increase, and I have not seen or heard one peep about this from the press here in Wisconsin. If a receptionist in a GOP administration made public comments like that it would get a banner headline in every paper in this state.
And, meanwhile, Jim Doyle proposes to raid the Transportation Fund to balance the state budget.
Clearly this is not newsworthy.
Thursday, Apr 10 at 10:31 PM Mike Moonbat wrote ...
Mass transit is the answer.
Thursday, Apr 10 at 11:15 AM Mike (Wauwatosa) wrote ...
Joe....step back and let society's "adults" (aka Conservatives) deal with things. You "kids" (aka Liberals) always think you know what's best. Remember when you actually were a kid and thought it was a good idea to eat all of your Halloween candy in one afternoon? And then you had the unintended consequence of a tummy ache? Well, with regards to taxes..I don't want to deal with the consequences of your ignorance. Big government's wasteful use of $ gives me a tummy ache. Doyle makes me ill.
Thursday, Apr 10 at 8:47 AM S. Colburn wrote ...
Joe, Please do your research before you post. The car manufacturers created better cars YEARS before California made it a law. All Califoria, and Liberals at that, are doing if making sure that the USA is behind the curve from the rest of the world. They never say anything to China about polution. They do nothing to help with the "problem" they just complain. Did you know that oil companies are researching alt. fuels? But like I stated earlier the EPA isn't helping. Sean
Thursday, Apr 10 at 6:53 AM Walt wrote ...
Joe, ever heard the term “unintended consequences”? That's a term that means when lazy liberals don’t think a process through to its conclusion they SCREW EVERYTHING UP. Example, DDT was dangerous to some bird species so liberals banned it, now millions are dieing in African and Asia from Malaria. Also, when liberals wanted to force Ethanol on us because they believe oil is bad, they use our FOOD supply to make it. Mexico is having a HUGE problem now because CORN is their food staple. Got it?
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 8:20 PM Maddie - Saukville wrote ...
If you could run your car forever on a single can of creamed corn, you still won't eliminate the world's reliance on oil. Every synthetic material we have, plastics, are made from oil. Your hybrid car is probably more plastic than anything else-so until we come up with an alternative to the internal combustion engine and a living thing (and not wood because we can't replace forests-so the environmentalists have taught me) to replace all of our synthetic materials, we'll be sucking down the oil.
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 3:09 PM Joe wrote ...
Sean, California has adopted the most strigent emission laws in the country and we all know that California is a controlled by liberals. Walt, never said that we should get rid of the internal combustion engine TOMORROW. What I said was high gas prices will speed up the development of an alternative to the internal combustion engine. How exactly did Americans effect emission regulations with their wallets?
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 2:19 PM S. Colburn wrote ...
Joe just a reminder Liberals didn't pass these laws. Nixon did. And by the way the reason cars were getting better emissions results was because people wanted a more fuel efficient can in the late 70's do you remember what happened during the Carter administration? Sean
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 12:46 PM Walt wrote ...
Joe, I’m confused, so you’re admitting that we CAN do two things at once. Dose that mean you are conceding the fact that we CAN drill for our OWN oil supply while at the same time cleaning our environment and improving technology on the transportation means we have TODAY. It was not the “government regulations” that made the difference because real Americans resist government. It was because the American people spoke to the auto makers through their wallet.
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 11:52 AM Joe wrote ...
Walt, the air got cleaner because liberals passed more government regulation on vehicle emissions.
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 11:12 AM Walt wrote ...
Joe, I try not to hate anyone, I just hate ridiculous “facts” that most liberals try to fool us with. I do agree someday SOME DAY the gasoline engine will be gone for something more advanced but what I object to are liberals who think they know the only way. Your way is to punish people for just trying to live their lives. Like I said Americans CAN do more than one thing at a time. Example; LA traffic INCREASED and the air got CLEANER between the 50s & 80s, how do explain that, bucko?
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 11:11 AM S. Colburn wrote ...
Joe what some of are getting at is that we need to keep using gas now until that alternate fuel is perfected. Hybrid cars aren't as great as people make them out to be. Have you ever seen or heard what need to be done to get Nickel out of the ground. What to you do when those batteries go bad? What about Flex fuel now we are finding out that it's damaging the environment MORE then regular gas. Just remember because of the EPA Alt. fuels need to be approved. Sean
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 10:08 AM Joe wrote ...
Walt, my point is that unless gas prices remain high or go higher we won't do anything different. I think we can all agree that someday the gasoline engine is going to be replaced can't we? Or do you hate liberals that much that you won't even agree with me on that.
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 9:48 AM Walt wrote ...
Boy Joe you are WAY out there aren’t you? So by your reasoning Americans should be forced to go back to the Stone Age until we learn how to create alternative flues. I know liberals can’t think beyond their emotions and self interests but here is a thought, why can’t we do BOTH at the same time. What a concept, huh, you know like walking and chewing gum at the same time. You can walk and chew gum at the same time, can’t you?
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 9:08 AM S. Colburn wrote ...
Joe, You need to study some more about newer technology. You ever hear about an EGR Valve? The auto makers developed Technology to make cars run more fuel efficient on GAS. Not CORN. Gas is so expensive because we have to add this detergent and this blend of ethanol and this level of octane. Have you ever seen an owner’s manual for cars require Midgrade gas? Also one this that isn't covered is the fact the EPA doesn't allow alternate fuels to be used without the proper testing.
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 8:43 AM Joe wrote ...
Actually, I hope gas prices go up even higher because maybe that will result in the development of technologies to finally replace the internal combustion engine and get us off of oil. Unlike you folks who just want to drill, drill and drill instead of looking for a solution that will benefit future generations. For those of you who think refineries are the problem you should know gas supplies are up and consumption is down so how are more refineries going to do anything?
Wednesday, Apr 9 at 6:16 AM Kurt/Elkhorn wrote ...
Why is it that all these taxes, etc. are brought on by those who don't pay for gas anyway. They ride in limos or drive gov't vehicles with fuel paid for on a gov't credit card or expense acct. So why not raise the tax. They will be re-elected & continue to be insulated from the real world on the gov't dole until they retire & move to another state where taxes are lower & leave us the mess again. Thank you Slim Jim Doyle once again!
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 8:53 PM RxFire wrote ...
Is this the same Jim Doyle that said, "Going forward, my mind will be open to every solution -- except one. We should not -- we must not -- and I will not -- raise taxes. Wisconsin's problem is not that we tax too little. It is that we spend too much. If common sense doesn't lead us to that conclusion, simple arithmetic will. Wisconsin is already one of the nation's most heavily taxed states."
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 8:41 PM IJEFF wrote ...
So Joe thinks since gas was cheaper when a Democrat was President so it must be the Republicans fault? What an idiotic statement. I think I understand why liberals don't want to have honest debate when they have no ability to be analytical and offer any intelligent commentary. In a nutshell, more worldwide demand, no additional domestic drilling and refining is the net result of liberal, environmentalist policies which unfortunately Republicans seem to have lost their will to fight.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 8:04 PM J. Gravelle wrote ...
To borrow from the bureaucratic lexicon: I shudder to think of all the "investment" opportunities I miss every time I drive past a bank and neglect to rob it... -jjg DailyScoff.com
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 7:45 PM Amy L. Geiger-Hemmer wrote ...
Democrats and environmentalists tie Bush's hands by not allowing drilling for oil in most of the United States, no more refineries to be built, no wind turbines (too ugly and they would kill birds), and no more nuclear power plants (too dangerous - although there hasn't been a nuclear reactor accident in years). Then they sit back and complain about "big oil" and how we are in an energy crisis. Duh!
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 6:23 PM Maddie - Saukville wrote ...
Dem's don't deserve all the blame-90% or so but Rep's held the gov's office and the legislature and didn't abolish minimum mark-up either, didn't stop the ethanol mandate, didn't get tough about developing our own resources and evidently, just aren't stealing it from Iraq fast enough contrary to Lib claims. No blood for oil? I'm going to have to sell mine for it pretty soon.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 5:25 PM steveegg - No Runny Eggs wrote ...
It just goes to prove that, as long as government gets the extra money, the lefties do not care about increased prices at the pump.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 5:18 PM Hank wrote ...
Joe, gas prices were even lower than that when a different republican was president, so what is your point?
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 5:17 PM Walt wrote ...
Joe, what country do you live in? You obviously didn’t live in America during the 70s under Carter. I went through TWO of those even/odd license plate periods. Both times being transferred (military) with my family. Liberals are such hypocrites, you create a problem like burning our FOOD for fuel and blame conservatives for high prices at the pump and for groceries. Than you tax everything that moves and blame conservatives. You just don’t get it, do you? That’s makes you a liberal.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 4:57 PM Walt wrote ...
Mike, I agree with everything you said but you forgot a few things. Liberal/Democrats LOVE to TAX the crap out of a product they never searched for, drilled for, refined or delivered to the stations. What do we pay for a gallon in Wisconsin about 50cents per gallon? Yah, we are sure punishing “big oil” aren’t we? This is the time of the year we change fuel “grades” as well. Factories need to temporarily retool for the summer grade. Less refineries on line, higher price at the pump.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 4:50 PM John P wrote ...
Well I did get a phone call back from the WDOT. Basically, Busalacchi was appointed to a bi-partisian commission, which was established by President Bush. The goal was to determine all infrastucture and public trans (light-rail)needs and various funding sources. When asked about raiding the transportation fund, he stated that this was a policy decsion and that the money was repaid with bond financing. Thus we are paying interest on this raid and will have to pay them in the future.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 4:15 PM Joe wrote ...
Mike, the Liberals are to blame? Seems to me that gas prices were a lot lower when a Dem was President.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 3:52 PM Kevin Binversie wrote ...
Of course our infrastructure's lousy in Wisconsin Frank, your boss stole your money to pay off WEAC! MULTIPLE TIMES! In an aside, do they do any work at the second floor press room in the Capitol Building, or they just waiting for Press Releases from on high?
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 3:45 PM Mike wrote ...
Liberals/Democrats are to blame for high gas prices. 30 years of the Democrats beholden to the extreme environmental movement, refusing to build one refinery. We’re not allowed to drill in the 48 states or off the coast of Florida or California. We can’t drill in ANWR. We can’t do anythiny. I blame the rotten liberals for this.
Tuesday, Apr 8 at 3:44 PM John P wrote ...
I called Gov. Doyle's office about this today and they referred me to the DOT. The lady at the DOT wanted to know where I heard this from, and then said that someone would get back to me. We will see if they do. I hope people will call both the Governor's office at 608-266-1212 and the WDOT at 608-266-1113.
Add a comment
Most Popular