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1/5/2020 |
Adri |
Kalisvaart |
Lincoln Republican Town Committee |
Lincoln |
Rhode Island |
You should read "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels" by American energy theorist Alex Epstein, in which the author argues that, although sometimes labeled as "immoral," the use of... read more You should read "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels" by American energy theorist Alex Epstein, in which the author argues that, although sometimes labeled as "immoral," the use of fossil fuels dramatically improves the overall progress of humanity, and improves life expectancy and income. My senator Sheldon Whitehouse should also read "The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels." |
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1/5/2020 |
Kenneth |
Wods |
REPUBLICAN |
Wakefield |
Rhode Island |
Charlie Baker and the Queen of Rhode Island Gina Raimondo are bent on taxing the heck out of the motoring public, including Taxi Uber and Lyft riders and drivers. This TCI Fuel Tax starts out... read more Charlie Baker and the Queen of Rhode Island Gina Raimondo are bent on taxing the heck out of the motoring public, including Taxi Uber and Lyft riders and drivers. This TCI Fuel Tax starts out small but balloons out of control to the point where as an example gasoline would go from $2.57 to $4.25/gallon over time. These governors are stealing President Trump's middle class tax cut in anyway they can. STOP THEM IN THEIR TRACKS. THINK ABOUT YOUR MOBILITY AND THE STRONG ECONOMIC CONDITIONS President Trump has enabled you to keep you and your families financially strong and mobile. |
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1/5/2020 |
Michael |
Panasuik |
Taxpayer |
Barrington |
Rhode Island |
No new gasoline taxes!!!!!!! No new gasoline taxes!!!!!!! |
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1/5/2020 |
paul |
petit |
independent |
pawtucket |
Rhode Island |
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1/5/2020 |
Bill |
Gorman |
Taxpayer |
Southwick |
Massachusetts |
This initiative will not do anything to improve transportation in my rural community and will put a large dent in my budget due to both increased individual gas prices and increased transportation... read more This initiative will not do anything to improve transportation in my rural community and will put a large dent in my budget due to both increased individual gas prices and increased transportation prices for goods. This will put a huge burden on people who are on limited budgets. Both the lower and middle income families will be greatly impacted. Do not vote for this. Anyone who does should be voted out of office. It is yet another tax which will end up costing taxpayers a lot and offer little in actual resolutions. |
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1/4/2020 |
Bill |
Malloy |
taxpayer |
framingham |
Massachusetts |
This is a tax plain and simple.The legislature must vote yea or nay.I want to stop Gov.Bakers' GAS TAX.. read more This is a tax plain and simple.The legislature must vote yea or nay.I want to stop Gov.Bakers' GAS TAX.. |
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1/3/2020 |
Don |
Neugebauer |
Convenience Store owner |
Lafayette |
New York |
There was an article in the Syracuse newspaper on October 27 2019 that listed New York as the 49th worst State in the country for their business tax climate. Owning a business in NY is like death... read more There was an article in the Syracuse newspaper on October 27 2019 that listed New York as the 49th worst State in the country for their business tax climate. Owning a business in NY is like death by a thousand paper cuts. This is just another example of how to squeeze the business tax payer. |
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1/3/2020 |
Carole |
O'Connell |
Retired |
Newport |
Vermont |
As a senior, I am concerned that my ability to travel to other towns is limited by a lack of public transportation. Since I do not own a vehicle, I am dependent on others to drive me to other... read more As a senior, I am concerned that my ability to travel to other towns is limited by a lack of public transportation. Since I do not own a vehicle, I am dependent on others to drive me to other towns to shop, attend events, and visit friends and relatives. Because I now live on a fixed income, purchasing and maintaining a vehicle would be prohibitively expensive for me. I lived for years in Chicago, and am used to taking easily accessible and inexpensive public transit. Because I was able to use public transit, I did not add to air pollution by driving myself everywhere, and it bothers me that I am contributing to it here in my home state. |
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1/3/2020 |
Bruce |
Gordon |
Taxpayer |
Milton |
Massachusetts |
TCI = another case of taxation without representation. TCI = another case of taxation without representation. |
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1/3/2020 |
JOHN |
MANCHESTER |
operater |
HULL |
Massachusetts |
Taxation without representation fueled the revolution 200 years ago for good reason. It's just wrong. read more Taxation without representation fueled the revolution 200 years ago for good reason. It's just wrong. |
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1/3/2020 |
Andrew |
Chalnick |
South Burlington Resident |
South Burlington |
Vermont |
Scientists are screaming at the top of their lungs that we are in a crisis.
A sample of recent headlines:
“Climate change: Oceans running out of oxygen as temperatures... read more Scientists are screaming at the top of their lungs that we are in a crisis.
A sample of recent headlines:
“Climate change: Oceans running out of oxygen as temperatures rise”
https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50690995?fbclid=IwAR2Fl4Xz8w3zJXs_lN9Pk5RYzwRHZLAy6_s_E7Aqx6xjPIvrOEdkoaNTF70)
“U.N. chief warns of ‘point of no return’ on climate change”
https://www.politico.com/news/2019/12/01/climate-change-point-no-return-074610)
“In bleak report, U.N. says drastic action is only way to avoid worst effects of climate change”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2019/11/26/bleak-report-un-says-drastic-action-is-only-way-avoid-worst-impacts-climate-change/?fbclid=IwAR3uSyLx-bPcrIrc7CXYsJIiNkOATN6WV0LbqHhiegq0Z1Cjgzcg92B7waY)
“World Scientists’ Warning of a Climate Emergency”
https://academic.oup.com/bioscience/advance-article/doi/10.1093/biosci/biz088/5610806?fbclid=IwAR0VYvHA8g8GeRbrtbwsc7iqLIIeZAJxOO7Xrc8Gqe1Ahp-A7NveFHrT6Gg)
In the face of this, we must do everything possible to reduce fossil fuel use to avoid handing our children a dystopian future. Why must Vermont act when we are such a small state? Because climate change is a collective problem and collective problems can only be solved through collective action - if each small actor decides their contribution is not meaningful, no one will act.
Critical to the TCI is that it raises the price of fossil fuels for transportation - when things are more expensive people use less. There is no more efficient way to get people to use less fossil fuel and no more efficient way to transition the economy way from fossil fuels. This is the uniform conclusion of virtually every economist and every economic group, including the World Bank and the IMF. As the World Bank’s president said ”to our economists, who have been studying this for quite some time, there is an obvious consensus that putting a price on carbon pollution is by far the most powerful and efficient way to reduce emissions.”
However, key to an equitable and durable policy is to use at least some of the revenue to help the working people and the poor, especially in Vermont’s rural areas. This can be done through a targeted carbon dividend to those least able to afford increased fuel prices.
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1/3/2020 |
john |
fischer |
independent and i vote |
fayette |
Maine |
this tax would be grossly unfair to the rural population who live in areas without public transportation and who must commute long distances for work, doctors appointments, school etc . It... read more this tax would be grossly unfair to the rural population who live in areas without public transportation and who must commute long distances for work, doctors appointments, school etc . It would drive up the costs for goods delivered by trucks. Find another , fairer, way to raise money for alternate , clean energy. Making rural folks bear the burden for this initiative is illogical and unfair. This tax is extremely regressive and would have a significant negative economic impact on low and middle income earners. I believe Maine's carbon foot print is low relative the states with big industrial polluters. |
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1/2/2020 |
Dwight |
Day |
Conservative |
Duxbury |
Vermont |
TCI is a horrible plan for Vermont. The New Hampshire governor has already opted out of it. Vermont needs to opt out also. TCI will make life for low income rural Vermonters much harder than it... read more TCI is a horrible plan for Vermont. The New Hampshire governor has already opted out of it. Vermont needs to opt out also. TCI will make life for low income rural Vermonters much harder than it already is. TCI will cause many Vermonters to buy more fuel in New Hampshire and less in Vermont. This will reduce road repair revenue for Vermont. Vermont's roads will get worse than they already are. |
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1/2/2020 |
Todd |
Smith |
Private citizen |
Woodstock |
Connecticut |
This is another stupid idea to take money from ordinary citizens and give more money to the government. If history is a teacher the CT politicians will take the monies and spend it on other... read more This is another stupid idea to take money from ordinary citizens and give more money to the government. If history is a teacher the CT politicians will take the monies and spend it on other things. I live in northeast CT where there is no public transportation in my area. If this tax goes through the rural areas will be subsidizing the cities. The practical effect will be a huge increase in the cost of goods that are delivered by truck. This will mean prices on everything will go up for no real benefit to the general population.
Electric powered vehicles are most likely the future of private transportation. But there will be a huge surge in demand on the electrical grid. This will mean that more power plants will need to be built but the environmentalists are opposed to new power plants. Solar generated electricity has not developed enough to meet demand yet. So how are we going to produce more electricity?
In my opinion man made climate change is a hoax. |
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1/2/2020 |
Daniel |
Marion |
Very Concerned Citizen |
Cumberland |
Rhode Island |
TCI is a complete sham and is nothing more than another excuse to take more money from the tax payers and control their lives. If you truly want to affect the climate in a positive way spend your... read more TCI is a complete sham and is nothing more than another excuse to take more money from the tax payers and control their lives. If you truly want to affect the climate in a positive way spend your time getting China, and India to reduce their toxic output and leave the US alone. There is no freaking way the people in New England will be ok garbage. |
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1/2/2020 |
Paul |
Kenyon |
Cumulus Engineering, LLC. |
Bridport |
Vermont |
the TCI should be engaged provided 1.) the tax isn't regressive, that is that those most able to pay carry the burden, 2.) provided the most basic due diligence is done, that is, that the... read more the TCI should be engaged provided 1.) the tax isn't regressive, that is that those most able to pay carry the burden, 2.) provided the most basic due diligence is done, that is, that the data that overwhelmingly supports the thesis that it is CO2, one of the fossil fuels combustion products, that is the primary driver of climate, and that this is ascertained and made clear and public 3.) that the CO2 increase constitutes a "climate crisis" demonstrated by data, not just "studies," or hearsay from other sources, that is made public, 4.) that the CO2 increase benefits--greater harvests of all agricultural sorts and others--are out weighed by the damages it causes, 5.) that it's shown that the reduction in CO2 will have a measurable benefit to life and out weigh the benefits that the use of fossil fuels have brought the world and remain to come to those peoples who have lacked these developmental benefits thus far. This is a list of minimum requirements. Others will appear and must also be considered.
And, just to check, please answer this question: "In 1950 there were about 5000 of the climate-crisis pin-up icon, endangered polar bears in the Arctic. Mankind having done nothing to address "Climate Change," the polar bear population has been reduced to...how many polar bears? How many of these threatened, iconic bears are there now in the Arctic/" |
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1/2/2020 |
Ron |
Lawrence |
none |
Jericho |
Vermont |
If you really want to stick it to the poor and particularly to people who work for a living, raise the price of gas.
There are already significant taxes on gasoline; but the... read more If you really want to stick it to the poor and particularly to people who work for a living, raise the price of gas.
There are already significant taxes on gasoline; but the transportation funds are siphoned off for other things. What makes us think this will be any different? |
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1/1/2020 |
Stephanie |
Doba |
Volunteer with Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign |
Brooklyn |
New York |
The key to wider adoption of electric vehicles is building out a robust fast-charging infrastructure. Until consumers see DC fast-charging stations as a practical alternative to gas stations, they... read more The key to wider adoption of electric vehicles is building out a robust fast-charging infrastructure. Until consumers see DC fast-charging stations as a practical alternative to gas stations, they will be reluctant to consider buying electric cars. TCI should incentive or subsidize installation of tens of thousands of fast-charging stations of minimum 150 kW -- and the signage and advertising necessary to give them visibility to the wider public. New regulations could even REQUIRE gas stations to provide space for charging vendors like EVgo, Electrify America, Tesla, or local power authorities, to install EV fast-charging stations.
Level 2 charging stations are far less useful in general - but would be very useful in urban areas if paired with parking spots where residents could leave their cars overnight or throughout the week. These should be special street parking areas with Level 2 charging stations and suitable enforcement to heavily penalize internal combustion cars from parking in those spots. In my location (Brooklyn, NY), where most people don't have driveways, I'm sure that more people would buy EV's if they would be assured of parking spots paired with Level 2 charging!
I own a Tesla Model 3. I charge it from my home when I can get the parking spot in front of my house, and I frequently use Tesla Superchargers when I travel. But not everyone can organize their lives around parking and charging; we need to make electric vehicle charging as plentiful as gas stations. |
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12/31/2019 |
Jonathan |
Hutchison |
Citizen |
Tonawanda |
New York |
If this policy does not include cutting spending to sprawling roads and development, which continues to encourage single occupancy vehicle use and increases Vehicle Miles Traveled, it will be... read more If this policy does not include cutting spending to sprawling roads and development, which continues to encourage single occupancy vehicle use and increases Vehicle Miles Traveled, it will be useless. Effective pricing models including public parking, rolling, gas taxes are a must. The revenue generated should then be immediately invested back in to infrastructure that promotes walking, cycling, and public transportation use. |
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12/30/2019 |
Frances |
Selkirk |
Lifelong Massachusetts resident |
North Reading |
Massachusetts |
I support the TCI and hope it is implemented at the 25% emission reduction model. This seems to be a well-considered plan to distribute the costs of combating climate change, using regional buy-in... read more I support the TCI and hope it is implemented at the 25% emission reduction model. This seems to be a well-considered plan to distribute the costs of combating climate change, using regional buy-in to maximize impact and minimize short-term economic loss for local businesses, with potential for medium- to long-term economic and structural gain for the region as whole. The projected gas price increases that some groups are so upset about -- 17% on the high end -- can happen from a refinery fire or hurricane, and hardly seems enough to matter much to individuals with sensible vehicles. (In my case, I have calculated that would be an extra $5 most weeks, $10 if I travel. People who bought unnecessary gas-guzzlers can and should pay to help offset the problems they cause -- travel to Canada or England for a taste of what gasoline SHOULD cost to offset damage.) Local commercial producers who need heavy vehicles and are are anxious that their goods may be slightly more expensive to ship out of state should consider that others will be correspondingly more expensive to ship in (especially as we are in the interior of the planned region), potentially giving them an advantage with local consumers. Even if not, infrastructure improvements should ultimately benefit both commerce and individuals, as will the obvious health benefits of local emissions reductions. |
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