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Gasoline Taxes Per Gallon Nearly 7 Times Exxon Mobiles

CARPE DIEM: Gasoline Taxes Per Gallon Are Almost 7 Times ExxonMobil's Profit: 42 cents vs. 7 cents for QI

Pretty short and sweet blogged article, but did anyone else find this surprising?

No, as a matter of fact, gas taxes don't completely pay for the construction and maintenance of roads.

"… no road pays for itself in gas taxes and fees. For example, in Houston, the 15 miles of SH 99 from I-10 to US 290 will cost $1 billion to build and maintain over its lifetime, while only generating $162 million in gas taxes. That gives a tax gap ratio of .16, which means that the real gas tax rate people would need to pay on this segment of road to completely pay for it would be $2.22 per gallon. This is just one example, but there is not one road in Texas that pays for itself based on the tax system of today. Some roads pay for about half their true cost, but most roads we have analyzed pay for considerably less. To conclude, in the SH 99 example, since the traffic volume for that road doesn't generate enough fuel tax revenue to pay for it, revenues from other parts of the state must be used to build and maintain this corridor segment. The same is true across the state, meaning that, as revealed by the tax gap analysis, overall revenues are not sufficient to meet the state’s transportation needs."
Worldchanging: Bright Green: Do Gas Taxes Cover the Costs of Roads?

What is your proposal to generate the needed revenue if not gas taxes, toll roads?
 
No, as a matter of fact, gas taxes don't completely pay for the construction and maintenance of roads.

"… no road pays for itself in gas taxes and fees. For example, in Houston, the 15 miles of SH 99 from I-10 to US 290 will cost $1 billion to build and maintain over its lifetime, while only generating $162 million in gas taxes. That gives a tax gap ratio of .16, which means that the real gas tax rate people would need to pay on this segment of road to completely pay for it would be $2.22 per gallon. This is just one example, but there is not one road in Texas that pays for itself based on the tax system of today. Some roads pay for about half their true cost, but most roads we have analyzed pay for considerably less. To conclude, in the SH 99 example, since the traffic volume for that road doesn't generate enough fuel tax revenue to pay for it, revenues from other parts of the state must be used to build and maintain this corridor segment. The same is true across the state, meaning that, as revealed by the tax gap analysis, overall revenues are not sufficient to meet the state’s transportation needs."
Worldchanging: Bright Green: Do Gas Taxes Cover the Costs of Roads?

What is your proposal to generate the needed revenue if not gas taxes, toll roads?
I was not aware that taxes on gasoline served merely as a road construction fund. However, it makes since that our administration wants higher gas prices (along side from green energy....yank) ...so that they can simply cycle that money to a public union building roads, who in turn would turn around and give it straight back to the government officials....thought outload

Anyway, it seems you think they're to low, what do propose then? Raise gas prices, and/or taxes?
 
I was not aware that taxes on gasoline served merely as a road construction fund.

Now you know!


However, it makes since that our administration wants higher gas prices (along side from green energy....yank) ...so that they can simply cycle that money to a public union building roads, who in turn would turn around and give it straight back to the government officials....thought outload

Please translate the above quote into complete english sentences and I will try to respond.

Anyway, it seems you think they're to low, what do propose then? Raise gas prices, and/or taxes?

The author of the article states they are too low. It is up to each state to decide how they make up the extra taxes needed beyond the gas tax to pay for the construction and maintenance of their roads. Gax taxes and toll roads seem the most direct way to pay for roads to me. And, I think we should move more of our freight by rail as it is more cost efficient, and trucks do most of the damage to roads that require expensive repair.

What tax method do you think the states should use to make up what they need for roads?

I just found this further info that may help in our discussion:

"To have a meaningful national debate over transportation policy – particularly at a time of tight public budgets – it is important to get past the myths and address the real, difficult choices America must make for the 21st century. Toward that end, this report shows:

· Gasoline taxes aren’t “user fees” in any meaningful sense of the term – The amount of money a particular driver pays in gasoline taxes bears little relationship to his or her use of roads funded by gas taxes.

· State gas taxes are often not “extra” fees – Most states exempt gasoline from the state sales tax, diverting much of the money that would have gone into a state’s general fund to roads.

· Federal gas taxes have typically not been devoted exclusively to highways – Since its 1934 inception, Congress only temporarily dedicated gas tax revenues fully to highways during the brief 17-year period beginning in 1956. This was at the start of construction for the Interstate highway network, a project completed in the 1990s.

· Highways don’t pay for themselves -- Since 1947, the amount of money spent on highways, roads and streets has exceeded the amount raised through gasoline taxes and other so-called “user fees” by $600 billion (2005 dollars), representing a massive transfer of general government funds to highways.

· Highways “pay for themselves” less today than ever. Currently, highway “user fees” pay only about half the cost of building and maintaining the nation’s network of highways, roads and streets.

· These figures fail to include the many costs imposed by highway construction on non-users of the system, including damage to the environment and public health and encouragement of sprawling forms of development that impose major costs on the environment and government finances."
Do Roads Pay For Themselves? Setting the Record Straight on Transportation Funding - U.S. PIRG
 
Shush! Don't tell Obama he'll want to tax the Government tax, he's such a dumb-ass.

I don't know about you but my taxes went down under this administration.
 
I don't know about you but my taxes went down under this administration.

The only way your taxes went down under this administration, is if you lost your job. :lamo
 
The only way your taxes went down under this administration, is if you lost your job. :lamo


The stimulus was the biggest middle-class tax cut in history


""the major tax cuts enacted in the 2009 economic stimulus bill actually reduced federal income taxes for tax year 2009 for 98 percent of all working families and individuals." In terms of the number of Americans who benefited, the stimulus bill was the biggest tax cut in history."
 
My income went down, way down, and my income taxes went down. Most other taxes went up and we have our lovely new taxes.
 

The stimulus was the biggest middle-class tax cut in history


""the major tax cuts enacted in the 2009 economic stimulus bill actually reduced federal income taxes for tax year 2009 for 98 percent of all working families and individuals." In terms of the number of Americans who benefited, the stimulus bill was the biggest tax cut in history."

You lefties with your "in history" bull****. Everything you do is the biggest in history. You people really think you're all that, when you're really the worse things in this country. I also wish you'd stop trying to pose as an Independent, be truthful to us and yourself.
 
Just spent over $75.00 to fill my tank. Gas was just over $4.10/gallon, 18 gallon tank.

I am seriously regretting buying my current car (2001 Ford Taurus SES). I finally decide to treat myself to something nice a few years ago, and now this happens. <sigh>
 
Just spent over $75.00 to fill my tank. Gas was just over $4.10/gallon, 18 gallon tank.

I am seriously regretting buying my current car (2001 Ford Taurus SES). I finally decide to treat myself to something nice a few years ago, and now this happens. <sigh>

We passed peak oil in the US in 1971, and you just noticed? Most of the rest of the world pays double or more what we pay for gas, how did you think we would avoid paying more?
 
The only way your taxes went down under this administration, is if you lost your job. :lamo

or he doesn't have one
 
Just spent over $75.00 to fill my tank. Gas was just over $4.10/gallon, 18 gallon tank.

I am seriously regretting buying my current car (2001 Ford Taurus SES). I finally decide to treat myself to something nice a few years ago, and now this happens. <sigh>

The 2001 Taurus is not that bad on gas. Especially compared to SUVs that were very popular at that time. To get something much better on gas you would have had to go to the Civic or Focus and still would have only seen about a 6 mpg-9 mpg difference at most in normal driving.
 
The 2001 Taurus is not that bad on gas. Especially compared to SUVs that were very popular at that time. To get something much better on gas you would have had to go to the Civic or Focus and still would have only seen about a 6 mpg-9 mpg difference at most in normal driving.

According to

Fuel Economy of the 2001 Ford Taurus FFV

it is 19 miles per gallon. 1 gallon is 3.78 liters, and 1 mile is 1.609 km. That gives 30,57 km per gallon, which is then 8.08 km per litre... and that..is HORRIBLE fuel economy. He could save tons of money by getting a compact European car from that era. My 2000 VW Polo goes 18ish km per litre, and a modern European compact car goes far far longer than that. A modern Ford Fiesta goes 47+ miles per gallon according to Ford UK.. yes petrol version.
 
According to

Fuel Economy of the 2001 Ford Taurus FFV

it is 19 miles per gallon. 1 gallon is 3.78 liters, and 1 mile is 1.609 km. That gives 30,57 km per gallon, which is then 8.08 km per litre... and that..is HORRIBLE fuel economy. He could save tons of money by getting a compact European car from that era. My 2000 VW Polo goes 18ish km per litre, and a modern European compact car goes far far longer than that. A modern Ford Fiesta goes 47+ miles per gallon according to Ford UK.. yes petrol version.


That 19 mpg would be relatively standard in the US for that size of car. SUV and pickups would get far less. The Civic of today would get about 27 mpg in city driving. A VW Polo size car would have trouble selling in the US, the Mazda 2 I think sells in the 10 000 range in the US, the Ford Fiesta (which is based on the Mazda 2 sells in the 70 000 range per year, the other small non hybrid car in the US the Honda Fit might sell 100 000. It gets a fuel rating of 31 mpg combined in the US


As a side not the European combined rating for fuel economy is about 25% higher then the similar rating in the US for the same car for example

VW GTi gets 38.5 mpg in the Euro combined rating while getting a ratingh of 27 mpg in the US for the combined rating. The same car with the same engine (european versions have 210 hp vs 200 for the US version
 
That 19 mpg would be relatively standard in the US for that size of car. SUV and pickups would get far less. The Civic of today would get about 27 mpg in city driving. A VW Polo size car would have trouble selling in the US, the Mazda 2 I think sells in the 10 000 range in the US, the Ford Fiesta (which is based on the Mazda 2 sells in the 70 000 range per year, the other small non hybrid car in the US the Honda Fit might sell 100 000. It gets a fuel rating of 31 mpg combined in the US

Wont have trouble if gas stays this high... which is my point and the point of all proponents of gas taxes for Americans. They will change the habits of Americans and make them buy smaller and much more fuel efficient cars, rather than the gas guzzling SUVs.

As a side not the European combined rating for fuel economy is about 25% higher then the similar rating in the US for the same car for example

Yes, makes you wonder why American made cars are so crap on fuel economy when a similar car in Europe meets our standards.

And the average European car is hitting 40+ miles per gallon these days, where as the US is still stuck at 23ish or so miles per gallon. So much for the free market.

VW GTi gets 38.5 mpg in the Euro combined rating while getting a ratingh of 27 mpg in the US for the combined rating. The same car with the same engine (european versions have 210 hp vs 200 for the US version

Well the VW GTi is hardly a family car heh.. more a petrol head car if you ask me.
 
Wont have trouble if gas stays this high... which is my point and the point of all proponents of gas taxes for Americans. They will change the habits of Americans and make them buy smaller and much more fuel efficient cars, rather than the gas guzzling SUVs.

..

Quite true, had the US higher gas taxes before it would be sending less money outside of the country and it would have more fuel efficient cars on the road right now. The US would be a wealthier nation to a significant degree with higher taxes on oil and gas. Encouraging efficiency reduces waste, and preserves wealth

.
Yes, makes you wonder why American made cars are so crap on fuel economy when a similar car in Europe meets our standards.

And the average European car is hitting 40+ miles per gallon these days, where as the US is still stuck at 23ish or so miles per gallon. So much for the free market.



Well the VW GTi is hardly a family car heh.. more a petrol head car if you ask me.

The point I was trying to make Pete is that the ratings are not directly comparable. The Euro rating is higher for the same car with no differences to the car then the US rating. For a direct comparison on combined ratings take 25% off the Euro rating to see what the car would receive in US ratings
 
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Quite true, had the US higher gas taxes before it would be sending less money outside of the country and it would have more fuel efficient cars on the road right now. The US would be a wealthier nation to a significant degree with higher taxes on oil and gas. Encouraging efficiency reduces waste, and preserves wealth

Agreed

The point I was trying to make Pete is that the ratings are not directly comparable. The Euro rating is higher for the same car with no differences to the car then the US rating. For a direct comparison on combined ratings take 25% off the Euro rating to see what the car would receive in US ratings

Actually I think that has much more to do with the type of petrol sold in the US vs Europe. They are supposedly quite different, so the engines have to be made differently to accommodate the different types of petrol. Now if that is true or not I dont know, but it is as plausible (at least) as your statement in my opinion :)
 
Agreed



Actually I think that has much more to do with the type of petrol sold in the US vs Europe. They are supposedly quite different, so the engines have to be made differently to accommodate the different types of petrol. Now if that is true or not I dont know, but it is as plausible (at least) as your statement in my opinion :)


Europe does or did have lower sulfur content in its gas and diesel, that may have changed recently and the octane rating for gas I believe is higher in Europe on average allowing for higher compression ratios which will improve mileage to a degree, but the main factor is the difference in how the combined rating is calculated. The city rating is actually only 10% different between the two. But the engines of european cars sold in the US only have slight differences between them. Of course the best small engine sold in Europe are not sold in the US currently. Ford is going to start with some of the Focus engines ( Direct injection turbocharged)
 
CARPE DIEM: Gasoline Taxes Per Gallon Are Almost 7 Times ExxonMobil's Profit: 42 cents vs. 7 cents for QI

Pretty short and sweet blogged article, but did anyone else find this surprising?

No, not at all. I don't think the figure .07 cents is correct. Big Oil talks "OPEC" costs per barrel, but 1/3 of the barrels comes from your own US oil on leased federal land, virtually free. It only costs .34 cents to refine a gallon of gasoline from 2 gals of crude. The by-products profits from the 2nd gallon pay for all of refining costs, plus more. ie. plastic additives, gas additives, motor oil & lube oils, pesticides, etc.

Note: Keep that in mind when discussing Nationalizing US oil and selling for $1.00 .
 
According to

Fuel Economy of the 2001 Ford Taurus FFV

it is 19 miles per gallon. 1 gallon is 3.78 liters, and 1 mile is 1.609 km. That gives 30,57 km per gallon, which is then 8.08 km per litre... and that..is HORRIBLE fuel economy. He could save tons of money by getting a compact European car from that era. My 2000 VW Polo goes 18ish km per litre, and a modern European compact car goes far far longer than that. A modern Ford Fiesta goes 47+ miles per gallon according to Ford UK.. yes petrol version.

Like everything else, you get what you pay for. My ride is 2005 300 Touring, V-6, about 15-16 mpg, and that is in solid comfort and full luxury. Of course, what makes gas expensive is how much you drive, and I only have 16,000 miles on my car.
 
Like everything else, you get what you pay for. My ride is 2005 300 Touring, V-6, about 15-16 mpg, and that is in solid comfort and full luxury. Of course, what makes gas expensive is how much you drive, and I only have 16,000 miles on my car.

Yes and no.. depends on what you mean by "luxury and comfort". My SEAT from 2005 has automatic gear, cup holders (yea!), radio/CD, automatic windows, and is full of electronic crap I never use. It goes 40ish to the gallon. And it is very comfortable, can seat 5 persons comfortably provided they are not all size large.
 
I don't know about you but my taxes went down under this administration.

Did it make up for what you're paying for gas and food, now and in the near future? Hope you don't have any smokers in your family either. He raised that tax as soon as he got to the WH. BTW, most smokers make less than $250K.
 
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