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McCune says no to gas tax
increase
Joining 30 of his
Republican colleagues, 2nd District
Rep. Jim McCune voted against
a 9.5 cent-per-gallon increase in the gas tax and assorted fee increases
on Sunday, saying the voters should have had a say in the transportation
funding package.
“We needed a vote of the
people on this,” said McCune, R-Graham. “Most people in the state are
not going to see the benefit of the tax increase, so it was incumbent
upon us to give them a chance to vote on it. That’s just the right thing
to do.”
Those filling up at the
gas station will see a 3 cent per gallon increase on July 1, 2005, with
the remainder of the tax increase coming in over the next 3 years.
Vehicle weight fees, annual motor home fees, and vehicle and driver
services fees will increase as well. The total revenue is expected to be
around $8 billion.
“Gas is already expensive and this tax adds another 3 cents per gallon
in about two months. The combination of transportation taxes and fees
plus the $500 million in new taxes for the operating budget is just too
much for our employers and our families,” said McCune.
The main projects
benefiting from the transportation package include the Alaskan Way
Viaduct ($2 billion), the SR 520 floating bridge ($500 million),
I-90/Snoqualmie Pass ($435 million), and I-405 ($992 million).
McCune says that with more than 40 percent of the spending going towards
projects in King County, it’s unfair to tax people who are unlikely to
reap the benefits of the package. “Despite the fact that the 2nd
District has some much-needed projects in the transportation budget, I
could not vote for the tax or the budget. I can not endorse taking
hard-earned dollars out of people’s pockets to support projects that
don’t help the citizens of my district,” said McCune.
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For more information, contact:
John
Handy, Assistant Director: (360) 786-5758
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