Penta: To be Taxed or not to be Taxed without Representation Forever

Repealing the “forever gas tax”.

Earlier this summer, the State Legislature approved a law that increased the gas tax by 3 cents a gallon starting July 31, 2013.

The same law also calls for adjusting the tax yearly to match growth in the consumer price index, starting in January of 2015 … now to be known as the “forever gas tax”.

A coalition called “tank the gas tax” is working to collect 100,000 voter signatures to place a question on the November 2014 ballot to repeal the provision that would increase the “forever gas tax” annually without any approval by the legislature.

As the law is written, legislators will never have to vote again to raise our gasoline taxes. And if the Consumer Price Index does go down at any time …  we will be paying 24 cents per gallon for the legislature capped the minimum you will pay at the pump at 24 cents.

I personally feel this tax increase is directly aimed at the working class who have to commute to and from work and all types of businesses that rely on receiving their goods by the trucking industry. It will without question hike up the cost of food, clothing and necessary daily living items via their transportation costs. 

Remember, this “forever gas tax” doesn’t include any additional federal gas tax increases.

This “forever tax” law is absolutely the height of arrogance demonstrated by the Massachusetts legislature in its imposing taxation without representation. There should never be a “forever tax” increase passed without a vote.

One can ask hasn’t this Massachusetts legislature learned anything form the days of the Tea Party and King George ?

This “forever tax” will affect every Medford driver, business and transportation shipper in our city,

Common sense, not the politics of Beacon Hill, should always trump the fact that no legislative body should ever tax us without approval and by a majority vote.

I ask all Medford residents who feel the same as I do to sign the “tank the gas tax petition” … be it by folks who are collecting signatures to have the question placed on the November 2014 ballot or you can download a petition from:
tankthegastax@gmail.com. or send an email to tankthegastax@gmail.com for more information.

Respectfully written, City councilor Bob Penta