Bridge Tax???

Question

Why does the federal government feel the need to raise money for bridges: Like raising gas tax???

Sure what happened in Minneapolis was sad and devastating BUT!!! The individual states are the one building bridges all over the place. The federal government shouldn't be maintaining them.

It should be within the states budget. If the state feels they need to build a bridge, why wouldn't maintenance be added to the budget to automatically? That goes without saying in anything you do in life. You don't buy a car without expecting to maintain it.

The other problem I have: If they raise a federal tax to pay. It's not even, States with less bridges and less residents are getting the short end of the stick, but still paying the same.

I guess I didn't word my question exactly right. I know that it is a Interstate highway. However, The states are still responsible for maintaining their portions of the highway. They get federal transportation assistance.

My main question still remains though. How was it not already budgeted? You can't just build something and forget about it.

Why do they feel the need to raise a tax since it should have been budgeted?

Unfortunately I agree, Democrats like taxes AND the government is praying on fears and tragedy to push an agenda.

Answer 1

Highway infastructure is the responsibility of the states. Federal highway money to given to the states for maintenance of highways and bridges.

Interstates may be called "federal" highways, but they are actually maintained by the states. Why else would the interstates be patrolled by state highway patrol.

Answer 2

Just FYI: The bridge in Minneapolis is an interstate highway bridge (eg: I35W) and thus was mostly funded by the federal govt.

However, I agree with your point about bridges built by local and state highway crews. They should not be federally funded or maintained with federal funds.

The state and federal highways in California are a friggen mess and I'm at the point, where I wish they would put up toll booths and just collect money from the drivers to maintain them.

Answer 3

This particular bridge is part of a federal highway. The upkeep of major highways is a federal responsibility. This responsibility has been slowly passed off to the individuall states in an effort to cut the federal budget. There is no need for new taxes. The federal government needs to divert funding back to infrastructure.

Answer 4

When it's all said and done, the bridge collapsed while construction was underway. Construction was Underway!

Who in their right mind attributes this to lack of funding when there was funded construction going on?

Does anybody really believe that the DOT knew the bridge was about to collapse, couldn't afford to address it, but left the bridge open and somehow funded unrelated construction on the same bridge?

This isn't even complicated. Somebody blew an inspection or somebody blew the construction, causing the collapse. 1 trillion federal tax dollars wouldn't have changed that.

How sickening that some are trying to use this tragedy to push through their existing gas-tax agendas. It is a shameless act of preying on people's fears while conveniently bypassing reason.

Answer 5

It's an excuse. Instead of say taking 0.1% of the defense budget and spending the $5.3 million this would raise on something like bridge building, they instead decide that they need more tax. It's misspending of funds. You don't need to spend 538 billion on defense if your country's bridges are collapsing.

I agree with you that it's the state government's responsibility for bridge upkeep. Some states (presumably nevada for instance) have few bridges, whilst some have huge amounts. Taxing all the same rate is unfair.

And who's to say that this new tax will be spent on bridges and not on something else entirely?

Answer 6

Democrats never saw a tax they didn't like.

If I knew the government would put the money into bridge that would be one thing.

I like to see all the senators who ask for a tax increase say here are my earmarks I am willing to give up to improve bridges.

I think all ear marks for all in Congress to be published and defended before we start raising taxes.

Answer 7

the problem with the bridge in minnesota was discovered in 1990. the real problem is that bureaucrats aren't engineers and don't understand the severity of the problems.

btw, the "construction underway" was repaving the surface of the bridge. it was not fixing the corrosion that already existed.

Answer 8

just like the dikes in new Orlons, the the government steals the gas tax by putting it in the general fund and spending it on social programs. Give them more they,ll steal more