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Tag: gas tax

  • California Republicans oppose mileage-based fee proposal

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    INTERVIEW WITH MEHAN RIGHT NOW@KCRA.COM. AND THE KCRA 3 APP. REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE CAPITOL WANT TO PUT THE BRAKES ON EFFORTS TO REPLACE CALIFORNIA’S GAS TAX WITH A MILEAGE BASED FEE SYSTEM. AB 1421 PROPOSES TO EXTEND THE ROAD USAGE CHARGE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE UNTIL JANUARY OF 2035. NOW, THE MAIN GOAL OF THAT COMMITTEE IS TO REPLACE THE CURRENT GAS TAX SYSTEM WITH A PER MILE USAGE FEE. YOU DRIVE MORE, YOU PAY MORE. THAT ROAD CHARGE WOULD THEN PAY FOR TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE AND REPAIRS. AS VEHICLES BECOME MORE FUEL EFFICIENT AND MORE EVS HIT THE ROAD, LESS GAS IS SOLD AND REVENUE DROPS. LAWMAKERS ARE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO PROTECT TRANSPORTATION FUNDING AS THEY SEE IT. WELL, TODAY, ASSEMBLY MEMBER FROM THE REPUBLICANS HEATH FLORA, RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE, WE ALREADY PAY THE HIGHEST GAS TAXES IN THE NATION. NOW, SACRAMENTO IS TALKING ABOUT ADDING A NEW TAX FOR EVERY MILE PEOPLE DRIVE. PILING ON ANOTHER TAX RIGHT NOW SHOWS JUS

    Republican lawmakers at the California State Capitol are opposing a study weighing whether to replace the state’s gas tax with a mileage-based fee system, as proposed in Assembly Bill 1421.The bill aims to extend the “Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee” until January 2035, with the goal of replacing the current gas tax system with a per-mile usage fee to fund transportation infrastructure and repairs. As vehicles become more fuel-efficient and more electric cars hit the road, less gas is sold, leading to a drop in revenue, prompting lawmakers to seek ways to protect transportation funding.”We already pay the highest gas taxes in the nation,” Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora said in a statement. “Now Sacramento is talking about adding a new tax for every mile people drive. Piling on another tax right now shows just how out of touch politicians in Sacramento are with the reality working families face.” The study is due on Jan. 1, 2027. See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. —

    Republican lawmakers at the California State Capitol are opposing a study weighing whether to replace the state’s gas tax with a mileage-based fee system, as proposed in Assembly Bill 1421.

    The bill aims to extend the “Road Usage Charge Technical Advisory Committee” until January 2035, with the goal of replacing the current gas tax system with a per-mile usage fee to fund transportation infrastructure and repairs.

    As vehicles become more fuel-efficient and more electric cars hit the road, less gas is sold, leading to a drop in revenue, prompting lawmakers to seek ways to protect transportation funding.

    “We already pay the highest gas taxes in the nation,” Assembly Republican Leader Heath Flora said in a statement. “Now Sacramento is talking about adding a new tax for every mile people drive. Piling on another tax right now shows just how out of touch politicians in Sacramento are with the reality working families face.”

    The study is due on Jan. 1, 2027.

    See more coverage of top California stories here | Download our app | Subscribe to our morning newsletter | Find us on YouTube here and subscribe to our channel


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  • Organizers Deliver Gas Tax Referendum Signatures In Horse-Drawn Carriage – KXL

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    Organizers of a campaign to repeal Oregon’s recently approved gas tax and vehicle fee increases arrived at the state capitol in Salem on Friday to deliver signatures for a proposed gas tax referendum. MGN image.

    SALEM, OR – Organizers of a campaign to repeal Oregon’s recently approved gas tax and vehicle fee increases arrived at the state capitol in Salem on Friday in unmistakable fashion: a horse-drawn carriage carrying Santa Claus and festively-wrapped boxes of signatures.

    The group, calling itself “No Tax Oregon,” says nearly 200,000 voter signatures have been gathered in less than a month—more than double the 78,116 valid signatures needed to qualify their referendum for the November 2026 ballot.

    The Secretary of State must now verify the signatures, a standard process that often disqualifies a portion of submissions. Petition campaigns typically aim far above the requirement to ensure they still meet the threshold after invalid signatures are removed.

    The referendum effort targets a bill passed during a special legislative session last summer.  Governor Tina Kotek called lawmakers into session to address a major transportation funding shortfall, and they approved a package expected to raise $4.3 billion over the next decade to support Oregon Department of Transportation projects and prevent large-scale layoffs at the agency.

    The bill increases Oregon’s gas tax from 40 cents to 46 cents per gallon starting in January.  It also increases several fees, including:

    • Title fees, up by $139 for most vehicles.

    • Base registration fees, up by $42 per year for passenger vehicles, motorcycles, mopeds, light trailers, and low- and medium-speed vehicles.

    • An additional surcharge for high-efficiency (40+ MPG) and electric vehicles, up by $30 per year.

    Petition leaders argue that the state had alternative options to fund transportation needs and say voters should have been allowed to decide on the increases directly.

    The deadline to gather the minimum number signatures was the December 30, just 90 days after the bill’s passage in late September.  However, organizers were unable to get started until Gov. Kotek signed the legislation — something that didn’t happen until the end of  the 30 business days window allowed by law. Despite that delay, petitioners say they gathered their signatures with 18 days to spare.

    The governor has slammed the referendum effort, suggesting it is misguided.

    “Frankly, I would urge Oregonians to think about signing on to a referral that will take away our basic ability as Oregonians to keep our roads operating,” said Kotek. “Let’s all come together as a state to make sure we have the roads we need.”

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    Tim Lantz

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  • New Illinois laws 2024: More laws go into effect July 1, including minimum wage, tax increases

    New Illinois laws 2024: More laws go into effect July 1, including minimum wage, tax increases

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    CHICAGO (WLS) — A host of new laws went into effect in Illinois Monday, at the halfway point of the year.

    Some of the new laws mean you will pay more at the pump and at your favorite Chicgao restaurants, but it also means many minimum wage workers are getting a raise.

    ABC7 Chicago is now streaming 24/7. Click here to watch

    Minimum wage increase

    Minimum wage workers in Chicago and Cook County will be getting a raise July 1.

    Those workers will now make a base pay of $16.20 per hour.

    Chicago tipped minimum wage phase-out

    Chicago started the first phase of cutting out tipped wages for workers. The new city ordinance will be implemented over the next five years.

    The old tipped minimum wage of $9.48 an hour plus tips, but effective Monday that goes up to $11.02 per hour.

    Supporters say both forms of higher minimum wage are good for workers.

    “Once you pay them this wage, you get much more retention, but you also get better service, in the kitchen in the front of the house, because just paying them is proof that we value their time and their energy,” said Rafael Royal, co-owner of Bianca’s Burgers.

    But others in the industry claims it fixes a nonexistent problem, and the costs will have to be passed along to customers in an industry with very thin profit margins.

    “Across the board of my three restaurants, my servers are making $35 an hour and they did not want an increase in tipped minimum wage. We’re going to have to figure out a whole new pay structure,” said David Bonomi, owner of Peanut Park Trattoria.

    PTO law changes

    Changes to Chicago’s “Paid Time Off” laws also take effect July.

    Anyone who works at least 80 hours during a 120-day period will now be guaranteed up to five days of paid leave and five days of paid sick leave.

    Gas tax increase

    New Illinois laws, including a gas tax increase, take effect on July 1, 2024.

    If you drive in Illinois, it might be a good idea to fill up your car on the last day of June. The state’s motor fuel tax goes up July 1.

    The gas tax will rise by two cents to $0.47 a gallon. That’s the second highest in the nation.

    It will cost drivers $184 more per year to buy gas than it did in 2019, according to the Illinois Policy Institute.

    Sports wager tax increase

    New Illinois laws, including a sports wagering tax increase, take effect on July 1, 2024.

    Also increasing July 1 is the tax on sports wagering.

    The tax will now move from a 15% flat tax to a progressive rate up to 35%.

    The increase is expected to bring in an additional $200 million in state revenue.

    Undocumented immigrants’ driver’s license applications

    Undocumented migrants can apply for standard Illinois driver’s license applications on July 1, 2024.

    Undocumented immigrants can apply for a standard driver’s license starting July 1.

    The state is eliminating the Temporary Visitor Driver’s License and replacing it with a Limited Driver’s License.

    “Today is a win-win, today is a no-brainer, today makes us a safer state, a better state, a more equitable state a more welcoming state,” Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias said.

    Applicants must meet all the state requirements and provide proof of living in Illinois for at least one year and also provide proof of car insurance.

    The new licenses cannot be used to get a Real ID or to register to vote.

    Another set of Illinois laws went into effect earlier this year on January 1. You can click here to see a full list of Illinois’ new laws in 2024.

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    Craig Wall

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