Green gas tax bid could push prices close to $5 a gallon

Gas tax opponents say they’ll regroup for a new fight if Gov. Charlie Baker joins an anti-climate change initiative that could push prices at the pump north of $4 a gallon.

Baker is eyeing the multistate Transportation Climate Initiative, which would charge energy companies for the carbon emissions associated with the gas and diesel they sell. Half of that revenue would go toward Baker’s $18 billion transportation bond bill, which includes major investments in the MBTA.

Joining the TCI, critics warn, will just hit consumers at the pump.

According to the AAA Fuel Gauge Survey, the average price of regular gas in Massachusetts is $2.56. But in California, where a similar climate initiative was rolled out, gas prices have gone as high as $4.90 cents a gallon.

“I don’t think it’s ever a wise policy to raise sales taxes. It just kills working people,” said state Rep. David DeCoste, a Norwell Republican. “Can you imagine $4 a gallon? It would just cream local retailers and crush the rest of us.”

DeCoste said he’s hoping the governor backs away from the pact, which would also rope in Maine, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware and Maryland.

Holly Robichaud, a GOP strategist who helped lead the repeal of a hike in the state’s gas tax in 2014, said it’s “outrageous” that any talk of boosting what motorists pay at the pump is coming up again.

“They should have gotten the message five years ago. Any hike in the cost of gas would be a killer for every small business and commuter,” said Robichaud. “There’s no need for it. We don’t have a money problem, we have a spending problem.”

The Baker team said the governor is mulling the TCI program, but such a hike is not a slam dunk.

“Governor Baker is pursuing the Transportation and Climate Initiative and it has been met with a broad coalition of support from members of both the business and environmental communities who believe this initiative will further mitigate the impacts of climate change, protect the health of our residents, and build a more resilient, sustainable and equitable transportation system for the next generation,” said spokesman Anisha Chakrabarti.

But drivers say they have it hard enough already.

John Patterson, 61, of Dorchester, told the Herald Friday, “It’s unfortunate that gas will have to go up because it would hurt the consumers’ pockets. It’s a necessity, and my means of transportation … is my bread and butter.”

Lin Li, of Brighton, added she doesn’t think such a tax would work. “People need to get to work one way or another it’s just going to cost them more. I still don’t think it’s going to alleviate the congestion … that’s not going to solve that problem.”

The Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce and the advocacy group Transportation for Massachusetts says a 15-cent increase over the next three years is more realistic.

 

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/327vTuD