Paying for the Big Dig

Boston Globe "Motorists cringe at gas tax plans":

Massachusetts motorists yesterday greeted the prospect of paying the highest gas tax in the country with a mixture of anger, wincing resignation, and measured support as a way to help fix the state's dilapidated transportation system.

Governor Deval Patrick, who formally unveiled the proposal to raise the tax by 19 cents a gallon, seemed conflicted himself as he abandoned previous statements opposing the gas tax hike or calling it ill-timed as families struggle through a recession. Now, his proposal would not only raise the gas tax, but continue to increase it yearly with the rate of inflation.

Well, that's just great. I drive 100 miles a day to-and-from Connecticut for my job, so this is not a minor increase. But a gas tax is also a "hidden tax" because it adds to the cost of everything that's transported by truck which is, um, everything. Meanwhile there are no shortage of stories about lavish state pensions including the MBTA's "23 and out" full-pension plan, not to mention the skyrocketing cost of the state's mandatory health insurance law. Deval Patrick has done nothing to address these issues. Instead, his modus operandi seems to be "spend the money first and scramble to find the money later" leading to schemes like luring casinos to the Bay State. If the Republicans can't field a candidate to replace him as governor, the Massachusetts GOP might as well fold up tent.

Extra - Hub Politics: "Business owners blast Patrick gas tax."