Aegis Letter to the Editor: Politics of Tolls and Taxes
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
(The Aegis Newspaper)Editor:
A recent
editorial lambasted Governor O’Malley for
seeking a toll
increase for the Hatem Bridge across the Susquehanna River, supposedly
because it is a payback to voters from Harford and Cecil counties who
did not support him. Never mind that tolls on the Bay Bridge, Key
Bridge and both tunnels are also going to be increased. I guess he is
mad at the voters who live in those jurisdictions as well.
increase for the Hatem Bridge across the Susquehanna River, supposedly
because it is a payback to voters from Harford and Cecil counties who
did not support him. Never mind that tolls on the Bay Bridge, Key
Bridge and both tunnels are also going to be increased. I guess he is
mad at the voters who live in those jurisdictions as well.
Sen.
Nancy Jacobs and several of her no-tax friends
stood on the
bridge and complained mightily about the increase several weeks ago.
For over 35 years I traveled to work through the 895 tunnel and gladly
paid the toll increases as they occurred, because I realized that it
not only takes funding to build these entities, it also takes funds to
maintain and add improvements as they age. Why do all these dead-beat
Tea Party/Republican politicians think we can have a free lunch
forever?
bridge and complained mightily about the increase several weeks ago.
For over 35 years I traveled to work through the 895 tunnel and gladly
paid the toll increases as they occurred, because I realized that it
not only takes funding to build these entities, it also takes funds to
maintain and add improvements as they age. Why do all these dead-beat
Tea Party/Republican politicians think we can have a free lunch
forever?
Actually,
these facilities collect a lot more revenue
from
out-of-area travelers than they do from the locals. The projected $36
per year with the EZ-Pass, or less than 18 cents per day (based on 200
days per year), seems like a good deal to me . . . especially when I
used to drop a quarter into the old toll collection hopper just to get
on I-95 at Rt. 152 in the 1970s.
out-of-area travelers than they do from the locals. The projected $36
per year with the EZ-Pass, or less than 18 cents per day (based on 200
days per year), seems like a good deal to me . . . especially when I
used to drop a quarter into the old toll collection hopper just to get
on I-95 at Rt. 152 in the 1970s.
These Tea
Party/Republicans who have sipped on Grover
Norquist’s no
tax pledge kool aid can stand afar and safely cast their “NO” votes
while their more serious Democratic peers do the heavy lifting. Yes,
the Governor and Democratic legislators, as the adults in the room,
once again acted responsibly.
tax pledge kool aid can stand afar and safely cast their “NO” votes
while their more serious Democratic peers do the heavy lifting. Yes,
the Governor and Democratic legislators, as the adults in the room,
once again acted responsibly.
James E.
Willard
Kingsville
Kingsville