Calif. carbon tax would be first at the pump
By Michael B. Marois, Bloomberg
California would be the first U.S. state to impose a “carbon tax” directly on motorists at the fuel pump under a plan by a leading Democratic lawmaker to ease greenhouse-gas pollution.
Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg wants to shift responsibility for emissions on gasoline sold by companies such as Chevron Corp., a cost that would otherwise be passed on to consumers in fuel prices. Instead, Steinberg wants to directly tax motorists 15 cents a gallon, rising to 24 cents in 2020.
California was the nation’s first state to set a limit for most carbon emissions, with regulations that aim to achieve a reduction of about 15 percent by 2020. The state auctions a limited number of pollution permits that industries can use to help meet the limit under a system called cap-and-trade.
No wonder the middle class is trying to get out of California, ASAP. Politicians like Darrell Steinberg is ruining a once great state and also making it an undesirable tourist attraction for the rest of the country.
Hurry lets spend all the money on increases to the benefit packages of state employees.
Why don’t they just raise the tax to $100 a gallon and be done with it? Then all the rich coastal do good liberals with spare cash can drive traffic-free on their private highways. California no longer wants nor needs the rest of us peons. Oh, and you think food prices are high now because of the drought, just wait until this tax hits the trucking industry and other distributors. Ah, the Golden State, all the gold goes to the state!
Um Gus. Did you even read the article. The Gas Excise Tax is 39.5 cents now but is going down to 36 cents July 1st. It’s part of AB 32 which passed in 2006 under Arnold. Reading the article, it seems the “debate” is whether to continue with the current AB 32 Cap and Trade or switch to 15 cents a gallon bump in the Excise Tax next year.
Who ever heard of Taxes Going Down?????
Hill. Read the article.
Get used to it….few can comprehend what they read any more.
This is how they vote too, more is the pity
observer:
Truer words were never spoken/written.
rock4tahoe, the way I read this article is that the excise tax is going down a tiny bit, not going away and the carbon tax would be on top of the excise tax, otherwise how would it raise an estimated 3.6 billion more in taxes the first year. they state that most of that money would go towards and earned income tax for people earning less than 75k a year. If you could re read this and let me know if I am wrong that would be nice
Relo. I re read the article and it is not specific on that point. I think the arguments are: keep going with AB 32 as planned with the estimated excise gas tax of 12 to 15 cents per gallon based on the carbon credits OR go to a straight excise tax of 15 cent per gallon without the carbon credit market.
The Environmental Defense Fund is said to oppose the change in the article.