10/27/2019 |
Bill |
Floster |
none |
Bridgton |
Maine |
I do not support this initiative. Maine is a rural state and distances traveled are long just to take care of basic needs. Also, this makes mass transportation impractical. Maine population is... read more I do not support this initiative. Maine is a rural state and distances traveled are long just to take care of basic needs. Also, this makes mass transportation impractical. Maine population is also among the oldest in the nation and a tax such as this will weigh heavily on fixed income recipients.
I also object to paying a tax that is then used to subsidize the purchase of a new electric vehicle that I most certainly cannot afford.
I would like Maine to withdraw from this initiative and plan to let my Governor and representatives know how I feel. |
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11/3/2019 |
Bill |
Mook |
Mook Sea Farms, Inc. |
South Bristol |
Maine |
I strongly support Maine's participation in TCI. As the owner of a shellfish farm on the coast of Maine I know firsthand how greenhouse gases are causing profound changes in the marine... read more I strongly support Maine's participation in TCI. As the owner of a shellfish farm on the coast of Maine I know firsthand how greenhouse gases are causing profound changes in the marine environment. These changes are already costing my business real money and threaten our future survival. We must all take responsibility for our role in degrading the environment. TCI can reduce greenhouse gas emissions just the way that RGGI has, while at the same time improving the health and resiliency of our economy. It is a no brainer. |
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11/5/2019 |
Bill |
Smith |
VT Truck and Bus Assoc |
Northfield |
Vermont |
The trucking industry is very concerned about TCI increasing the cost of delivering goods to Vermonters without any means of reducing the cost. Unlike pleasure cars, heavy trucks do not have a... read more The trucking industry is very concerned about TCI increasing the cost of delivering goods to Vermonters without any means of reducing the cost. Unlike pleasure cars, heavy trucks do not have a viable alternative such as electric vehicles, alternate fuel vehicles, riding the bus, or combining trips. Class 8 heavy truck production is several years out, at least, and when available will cost significantly more. In addition, the infrastructure to charge those trucks does not exist. Some trucks can run on LNG or CNG, but that is a very specific type of trucking (garbage hauling or bus, for example), and has a significant infrastructure cost for each business.
Our trips are determined by the location of the customer, and as such cannot be avoided. Combining deliveries is something which is already done--- efficient logistics of truck deliveries and bus trips is already at the forefront of the industry's focus.
Without any viable alternative the costs of funding TCI--- presumably from a charge on diesel fuel--- will be borne by this industry and its customers, putting Vermont businesses at a competitive disadvantage with companies in non-TCI states, and increasing costs without the ability to mitigate them.
Thank you for considering our concerns,
William S Smith, Esq.
VT Truck and Bus Association
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12/1/2019 |
Bill |
Brokamp |
Tax payer |
Scituate |
Massachusetts |
Cute name, Transportation and Climate Initiative. Won’t improve transportation or climate. Funny, no mention of tax, bureaucrat, pension fund, or legislative pay raise. Go figure. Cute name, Transportation and Climate Initiative. Won’t improve transportation or climate. Funny, no mention of tax, bureaucrat, pension fund, or legislative pay raise. Go figure. |
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12/1/2019 |
Bill |
Schineller |
Working commuter and taxpayer |
Sudbury |
Massachusetts |
Gas tax is regressive - proportionally punishes those who can least afford it - those who must travel longer distances to jobs because they can’t afford housing in pricey metropolitan area. From... read more Gas tax is regressive - proportionally punishes those who can least afford it - those who must travel longer distances to jobs because they can’t afford housing in pricey metropolitan area. From CommonWealth Magazine: “ The proposal would mimic a gas tax in that it would raise the price of gasoline.” Please don’t disguise a gas tax with a new name “cap and invest”. Reduce government waste, and fix loopholes to ensure that ultra-rich are not paying a lower effective tax rate than the lower and middle working classes. Use that money to improve mass transit e.g. electric buses on convenient routes. Only then will commuters opt to leave the car at home.
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12/1/2019 |
Bill |
Johnson |
MA Citizen |
Newton |
Massachusetts |
This is an unconstitutional attempt to raise gas taxes without legislative action. This will not cut vehicle emissions, as people cannot decide to skip work. The citizens have already voted... read more This is an unconstitutional attempt to raise gas taxes without legislative action. This will not cut vehicle emissions, as people cannot decide to skip work. The citizens have already voted against a gas tax hike, and the sheeple need to learn to stop voting for the folks promoting this nonsense. |
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12/15/2019 |
Bill |
Mish |
Independent |
Lunenburg |
Massachusetts |
I think it is wrong for Governor Baker to bypass the democratic process by pushing through a tax increase without forcing the legislature to take a vote. Please stop the Transportation and... read more I think it is wrong for Governor Baker to bypass the democratic process by pushing through a tax increase without forcing the legislature to take a vote. Please stop the Transportation and Climate Initiative. |
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12/21/2019 |
Bill |
MacDonald |
Maine citizen |
Orrington |
Maine |
Maine is different from all the other states involved in TCI because it is an endpoint destination for trucking in goods. Also, work commutes of 25 miles or more one-way are common, so there would... read more Maine is different from all the other states involved in TCI because it is an endpoint destination for trucking in goods. Also, work commutes of 25 miles or more one-way are common, so there would be an extremely unfair burden thrust upon Mainers by this proposed tax hike.
There is nothing about climate issues that a tax will fix. I am strongly opposed to this.
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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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1/5/2020 |
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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1/16/2020 |
Bill |
S |
Rider |
Pittsburgh |
Pennsylvania |
Its at least a good idea to start. Its at least a good idea to start. |
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1/16/2020 |
Bill |
Richards |
Self |
Falls Church |
Virginia |
It is getting late in the game. Administrators need to stop dragging their feet and come up with meaningful measures to cut carbon emissions.
The future is in your hands! It is getting late in the game. Administrators need to stop dragging their feet and come up with meaningful measures to cut carbon emissions.
The future is in your hands! |
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1/16/2020 |
Bill |
Staley |
self |
Sterling |
Virginia |
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1/18/2020 |
Bill |
Barnett |
WordCraft Editing & Writing Services |
Ithaca |
New York |
The urgent need for clean transportation continues to grow and I therefore strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative's mission. We must as a government and society take every... read more The urgent need for clean transportation continues to grow and I therefore strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative's mission. We must as a government and society take every conceivable action to mitigate the effects of climate change and reducing greenhouse gas emissions is vital to the cause. It's time to invest in technology that advances this cause. |
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1/20/2020 |
Bill |
Bredderman |
citizen |
Sloansville |
New York |
I wish to give my strong support to your effort to limit carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gas) producing forms of transportation. This must be done as quickly as possible as we are now facing... read more I wish to give my strong support to your effort to limit carbon dioxide (and other greenhouse gas) producing forms of transportation. This must be done as quickly as possible as we are now facing our final chance to put any kind of brake on a complete climate failure. I strongly support both intracity and intercity forms of public transportation that would accomodate this. This means public subsidy for these types of transit and a long overdue decrease in the subsidies provided for highway and bridge construction and maintenance. Certainly electric light rail and intercity rail would qualify for this subsidy but also the replacement of fossil fuel powered buses with electric buses should also qualify. Perhaps even more stimulating to this transition would be the replacement of rider fares with free ridership funded by all levels of government through the same mechanisms that have funded the highway industry for decades. Free ridership not only would stimulate increased use of public forms of transport but would also produce an economic equality benefit.
We know this would come at a considerable cost but if the cost of a complete breakdown in the climate as we know it is factored, these subsidies will save far more than just dollars. |
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1/22/2020 |
Bill |
MacDonald |
Private citizen |
Orrington |
Maine |
The proposed participation in TCI by Maine would raise gas taxes for all drivers in the state. Maine citizens would suffer the most from that increase, since we are the ones that live and work... read more The proposed participation in TCI by Maine would raise gas taxes for all drivers in the state. Maine citizens would suffer the most from that increase, since we are the ones that live and work here. I love my job, and because of my age, changing workplaces is not ideal. I say that because I commute daily about 75 miles round-trip. Increased gas taxes, such as Governor Mills is proposing, would increase my travel costs by about $6,000 per year! That is outrageous! Many of my fellow Mainers would feel the same pain.
Governor Mills, you will wreck Maine's economy if you resort to tax hikes. Do not join the TCI, and do not wreck our economy! |
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1/25/2020 |
Bill |
Christian |
Vermont citizen |
North Bennington |
Vermont |
Cutting gasoline will become a matter of life or death. We will keep using it as long as it's cheap and convenient. That's human nature. We MUST make it more expensive, so people will... read more Cutting gasoline will become a matter of life or death. We will keep using it as long as it's cheap and convenient. That's human nature. We MUST make it more expensive, so people will choose ways to NOT use it. This is life or death for our children's children. Implement this or a simpler carbon tax, and use the revenue progressively to help those hurt most by it, by returning the money straight back to them. Do not use the money for pet climate projects. Because the most effective and fairest measures are chosen by each of us individually. |
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2/21/2020 |
Bill |
Ravanesi |
Health Care Without Harm |
Boston |
Massachusetts |
Our transportation status is on a crash course with the climate, the public's health (tailpipe pollution, asthma, respiratory ailments and cardiac disease, and more). Our health systems are... read more Our transportation status is on a crash course with the climate, the public's health (tailpipe pollution, asthma, respiratory ailments and cardiac disease, and more). Our health systems are working to reduce their carbon footprints of our hospitals, fleet vehicles,
and employee commutes, but we need the support of strong policies to drive systematic progress. We appreciate the work being done by participating states to create a regional policy to rapidly reduce transportation emissions to protect the health of the communities we serve.
Funds raised by the program should be invested in ways that protect health, advance health
equity, and support health care climate resilience. As our hospitals advance clean
transportation goals, our patients and communities would greatly benefit from TCI being implemented regionally.
It is critical that as states consider how to invest the proceeds from this program, frontline and low-income
communities should be prioritized to benefit from those investments given the historical health
burden they have experienced from pollution. We urgently need a bold regional vision, TCI Now. |
TCI Portal submission.docx |
2/24/2020 |
Bill |
Elbert |
Retired |
Mountaintop |
Pennsylvania |
We need cleaner transportation options to be sure future generations are healthy as well as the environment. We need cleaner transportation options to be sure future generations are healthy as well as the environment. |
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2/26/2020 |
Bill |
Mook |
Mook Sea Farms, Inc. |
Newcastle |
Other US Territory |
I strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative because it provides a means to transform Maine's transportation system, which MUST be done in order to meet GH gas emission... read more I strongly support the Transportation and Climate Initiative because it provides a means to transform Maine's transportation system, which MUST be done in order to meet GH gas emission reduction goals, and it uses RGGI as a model.
1. Market based solutions generally are most effective. RGGI has been an extremely successful model for reducing greenhouse gas emissions without negatively impacting the economy.
2. TCI, like RGGI, can be used to strategically direct funds to those people and sectors that will most effectively reduce emissions.
3. TCI would harness the power and resources of multiple states, which will be more effective than if Maine "goes it alone."
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