State sponsored fuel price relief

Carpediem44DB

Carpediem44DB

Well-Known Member
Aug 18, 2015
3,230
Sanfransico Bay area
Boat Info
2000 Carver 506
2006 44 DB Sedan Bridge
Engines
Volvo TAMD 74 P
Here in Californication our venerable leaders are debating how to bring relief to the citizens that are paying between 5 and 7 dollars per gallon of fuel.
Our idiot governor wants to send every registered vehicle owner $400 per vehicle limit of two vehicles. Then offer free passes on all public transportation for three months. This would even apply to people that drive EVs and would have some kind of income limitation but that is not clear yet. I did a quick calculation on my fuel use and at the current levels I will spend $2500 more this year over last on fuel for our two cars. I did not figure on the boat as that is way too variable due to its use. He does not want to suspend the 51-cent gas tax though which would be the simplest and fairest way to bring at least some relief.
This is the same government that got ripped off by the EDD department that sent up to 100 billion dollars out to ineligible applicants.
What do you guys think is a reasonable relief plan that the state should consider. I personally don't think the state should do anything.
Let the market work. If people stopped buying the fuel the price would naturally fall. I still see people driving their Ford Raptors and Dodge Hell Cats 85 mph down the freeway.
I have not done the math but I have seen articles talking about how the actual cost of fuel over the years has lagged in terms of inflation compared to the cost of most other commodities so perhaps people seem concerned about the fuel costs but they are still just going to consume it just the same.
 
Hey, careful: I have a Hell Cat. It gets better fuel milage than my F150 Ecoboost btw. It's the loud pedal that changes things.
The answer is - where is your Gov getting or offsetting the money from? I think we know that answer; he is vote mining without a vision on impacts. You will be paying more than it costs later.

There are a host of things contributing to the cost of living these days but much is coming from decisions made at the executive branch. Your vote will help change things.
 
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Hard question with no great answers

Sending a check seems like a very blunt tool, where a very obviously one is available vis-a-vis changing the tax. Reducing the tax would directly impact the people that are actually buying the fuel. EV owners are not paying the tax on fuel now, so why should they get relief? Seems very unwieldly. Especially since California has a history of issues with administering these types of programs.

By the same token, the fuel tax has a specific purpose for road improvements. Removing that would seem to do long-term harm to the infrastructure.

The NY gov mentioned that the fuel tax goes toward maintaining our roads so it should be left in place. I almost choked, given the abysmal state of the Long Island Expressway. It's been horrible for 2+ years. Now when I go to work on the morning there are 4-5 cars with blowouts because of the huge potholes. You have to try to swerve around them and not veer into the next lane.

I have noticed that since fuel prices went up people are driving more slowly, myself included. I have the mileage displayed on my dash and try to maximize it. I'm only driving to the office 2 days a week, about 30 miles each way, but the increase still stings a bit. I kind of think several years of low fuel prices helped push the auto market to larger vehicles vs. ones that are more fuel efficient.

I'm still driving my 2012 Maxima because it's not an SUV and it runs very well at 150k milesl. I was considering swapping for an EV of some type, but there's just nothing wrong with the car. I figured I would keep it for when my kids start driving in the next 2 years or so, then maybe get an EV. Not loving the combined 21.8 mph I'm getting right now though.

I'll just note that the fuel prices have come back down a bit recently, so hopefully the market will work.
 
Truck burns two tanks a month, at the current price that alone is just under $400 The two pressure washers run 5g a day of mid grade.

If the government really wants to help great but let’s start at the federal levels. Cut out the feds tax on fuel to all those that drive. That will make the difference.

I can see it now, every person, child, dogs, and cats will suddenly own two cars. More sushi for the surfers who could own a car even if they wanted to.
 
Here’s a thought……….What effect would the simple mention of reopening the Keystone Pipeline project have on gas prices??

Give that a shot.

I agree with b_arrington, the Long Island expressway is just plane dangerous to attempt a lane change. Basically every white dashed line has become a 4” wide by 4’ long rut several inches deep. Repave the fu#€ing road already!!!
 
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… give a man a fish…

And there’s your Democrat party right there. Hand out “free” money to mask a self induced problem.

Slavery is alive and well. Only difference is race/color is irrelevant.
 
One of the problems is Ca has what they have defined as a 30 billion dollar surplus that they claim all this will be paid with. Those of us tax paying adults with brains look at our 200 billion dollars of unfunded liabilities such as state employee pensions for one and say “there is no surplus until the bills are actually paid” any money left over is surplus. Problem is adults are not running the state. Unicorn believing drug attics are.
 
We pay .77/gallon gas tax here in PA. .18 is federal and .59 is PA. There has been chatter about suspending the .59 for awhile but they will just add a tax somewhere else.
I filled my truck yesterday but work from home and with gas prices the way they are we have been driving my wifes Subaru everywhere (30mpg vs 12mpg...lol). But looked at my spreadsheet and I have only been filling my truck once a month so only been spending about $75/month in my truck so that helps. But we will start spending quite a bit more once we start making 3 trips a week to the marina
 
I drive a brand new company car. Gas is paid for. But I have noticed that while I’m filling my tank worry-free others are measuring how much they put in their tanks.

Yesterday a lady put in gas into her beat up Dodge caravan. It was so little it took 2 minutes. Just as I thought about filling her tank she got in and drove that beater away noisy muffler and all.

Real damn shame. Wonder who she voted for.
 
Suspending the gas tax would help the actual people who need it without any forms, web sites, or beurocrats. But perhaps that makes too much sense. I'm sure its far more efficient and fair to send a check to anyone who has a registered vehicle. I mean, what could go wrong?
 
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