The big local news story these days is New Jersey's proposed gasoline tax hike. New Jersey has long had low gas taxes, and cheap gasoline. Years ago, whenever I took a trip that had me passing through Jersey, I, like many New Yorkers, would top off the tank before heading over the bridge, but I stopped doing that when Chris Christie was elected governor- I would rather pay higher gasoline taxes and have the revenue accrue to New York State than to save money by spending in Jersey. Yes, I do voluntarily pay higher taxes and, yes, fuck that Jersey asshole.
Buried at the end of the news story is the fact that the tax increase on gasoline is supposed to coincide with an elimination of the estate tax. Yet again, a Republican administration is shifting the tax burden from the extremely wealthy to the middle and working class to an even greater extent. This is the same sort of chicanery that Governor Brownback pulled in Kansas, but it's even worse- gasoline purchases are necessary for most Jerseyites, and rising fuel costs will increase the prices of all consumer goods.
I'd feel sorry for the folks across the river, but they voted these regressive assholes into office. In fact, I have to confess that I'm feeling a bit of relief here- now I won't even be tempted to top off the tank in Jersey on the way home.
I work in New Jersey, so it would be easy for me to just get gas there because I'm always there and they pump it for me, and for reasons I prefer to have it pumped instead of my getting out of the car and working the pump (I know how, it's an arthritis thing) but I go a couple blocks out of my way to my local Sunoco where they pump and I pay more and don't mind. So, New Jerseyans will pay about the same amount I do, give or take. But it is a consumption tax so it is inequitably distributed and shifting some of the sales tax liability off isn't making up for it. (Don't get me started on the end of the NJ-PA reciprocal agreement. This hits me at work and home. I don't know what they are thinking about--but so much "Nope". )
ReplyDeleteMy wife fell in love with Oregon because they only have an income tax and no sales tax, unlike California, which has both.
ReplyDeleteFrom my own experience, the best thing about New Jersey are the expatriates, one of whom has a local hair salon here in town, AKA The Gateway to the Gateway of the Sierras.
Charly Baltimore: Easy, sport. Got myself out of Beirut once, I think I can get out of New Jersey.
Mitch Henessey: Yeah, well don't be so sure. Others have tried and failed. The entire population, in fact.
(Don't get me started on the end of the NJ-PA reciprocal agreement. This hits me at work and home. I don't know what they are thinking about--but so much "Nope". )
ReplyDeleteEver since Christie's ascent to the governor's mansion, he's been dicking around the neighbors- I'm thinking the Hudson rail tunnel that he muffed up.
My wife fell in love with Oregon because they only have an income tax and no sales tax, unlike California, which has both.
I really don't understand how voters can fall for the GOP time and again, knowing that they'll ultimately lose more money in consumption and property taxes and fees than they'll save in their pathetically small income tax breaks. Meanwhile, the plutocrats get all the benefits.
I really don't understand how voters can fall for the GOP time and again
ReplyDeleteDuncan has some insight.
~