TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Extorting MORE money from WE THE PEOPLE under the guise of cap & trade is another folly disguised as contributing to "fixing" climate! Climate cannot be fixed, it CHANGES. The US is THE cleanest country. You tell me what benefit this stupid tax will have to carbon emissions. Probably .00001% in the scheme of things, so rather punish people who need to work just so Gina's PR team can say she did something? Don't forget, RI average income...WE ARE NOT A RICH STATE. Rhode Islanders are already punished enough.

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.

As a parent and grandparent, I am very concerned about the world we are leaving our children. We have to do everything possible to reduce emissions that contribute to global warming. Anything that will cut back on the millions of vehicles on our roads will also reduce carbon pollution. This is something positive that we can do -- and we MUST do it.

I am appalled at the extremely regressive taxation bill being considered to replenish state coffers-- known as a carbon tax initiative. An across the board, regressive tax on such an essential and democratized commodity such as gasoline is a cruel punishment to inflict on Massachusetts motorists. Utilizing the climate change debate to pad patronage hiring and close budget gaps is truly an outrage. The fact that all of the states in the northeast are considering this as a monopolistic venture to prevent border competition is even more horrific. Thank you for the consideration.

As a psychologist working primarily with the next generation, I know firsthand young people's significant concerns about the health of our planet. For that reason and in view of my longstanding climate justice activism, I urge Vermont to participate in the Transportation and Climate Initiative. I shudder to think what accrual of environmental degradation is required for us to face the reality that this is a pivotal moment in our history - we need to act decisively now. Volunteers with 350VT and other climate justice organizatons are working steadily to address the challenge of transportation, our most carbon intensive sector, and TCI provides an excellent structure for reducing emissions while providing funding for a transportation infrastructure that reflects the need for a radical reduction in greenhouse gasses. Let's do it in a big way!

We need regional transportation systems that are cleaner, more reliable, more accessible, and more affordable. I ask that leaders choose the aggressive greenhouse gas reduction target that the most recent climate science indicates that is needed. Reducing pollution from transportation is a very important component to reducing Pennsylvania's emissions. The policy should prioritize clean investments in areas that are overburdened by pollution and in areas that don’t have access to transportation choices. Reducing carbon emissions can improve the health of our citizens and the environment.

This plan is bad for Maine and does not, in any way, take into account the needs of the People of Maine.

1) Maine is a Rural State with limited Public transportation. This Plan would needlessly punish people for simply going grocery shopping or going to the doctor due to high fuel costs.

2) Maine has a depressed economy. Wages in the State are consistently lower than the other States in this group. This plan would force people to have to spend more of what they make on fuel costs.

3) Most people in Maine cannot the afford Electric Vehicles that this Plan appears to want to force them to purchase.

4) This Plan does not, in any way, take into account that, even if people wanted to purchase an Electric Vehicle, a vehicle that performs the task currently being done by a Petroleum Fueled vehicle does not exist (Tractor, Combine, Dump Truck, etc). Those that need to use these vehicles will be needlessly burdened by artificially inflated fuel costs.

5) The Elderly and Disabled on fixed incomes will be needlessly burdened by artificially inflated fuel costs. Many are currently finding it difficult to pay for needed medication as is. This will only make it even more difficult for them.

In short, The TCI should be opposed as a Bad Idea.

Thank you,

Guy Brandenstein

This needs to stop dead in it's tracks, tax hikes are only going to cripple the working class, and ultimately destroy the economy.

I urge Governor Baker of Massachusetts to join TCI and push it to be as ambitious as possible, for the sake of my children, neighborhood and workplace (vulnerable to sea level rise), and the people and ecosystems that are more vulnerable than me to the impacts of climate change. TCI can help move us beyond fossil fuel for transportation, which will have positive economic impacts.