TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

Material submitted through the TCI Public Input form from April 2019-February 2021 is viewable here. View input submitted from March 1, 2021 forward here. All material submitted on this page informed the participating jurisdictions in the 2019-2020 TCI regional policy design process. Click on the column headings to sort the submissions.

Date	First	Last	Affiliation	City	State	Input	File
11/18/2019	William	King	MA Resident & Voter	West Brookfield	Massachusetts	We do not need the Transportation and Climate Initiative in MA. It amounts to a carbon tax at the wholesale level and ultimately another tax on gas and diesel. Taxes are already too high,... read more We do not need the Transportation and Climate Initiative in MA. It amounts to a carbon tax at the wholesale level and ultimately another tax on gas and diesel. Taxes are already too high, we do not need to add more. Such an initiative needs to be voted by the State legislature, it should not be implemented by the Executive branch or other means. CA is losing business and residents because of excessive regulation and taxes. We do not need gas prices exceeding $4 per gallon or higher car prices, etc.	-
11/18/2019	Matthew	Gorham	n/a	South Easton	Massachusetts	The freedom to move/migrate is a human right and necessity. Adding a tax on this activity not only hinders our right but it affects the poor among us the most in their ability to live their day-... read more The freedom to move/migrate is a human right and necessity. Adding a tax on this activity not only hinders our right but it affects the poor among us the most in their ability to live their day-to-day lives. The fact that transportation is a necessity for most people also means that taxation does nothing to curb this activity. We ask that you consider the working class and the families who will impacted the most by your legislation.	-
11/19/2019	Nick	Rotiroti	Citizen	Avon	Massachusetts	Then TCI initiative is a tax on all of us without representation . It should not be allowed . California is paying gas at $4 plus a gallon and they are falling apart . It is another power grab by... read more Then TCI initiative is a tax on all of us without representation . It should not be allowed . California is paying gas at $4 plus a gallon and they are falling apart . It is another power grab by you politicians especially without getting the citizens involved . Please stop this	-
11/20/2019	MARTIN	JOYCE	TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY/AND PRIVATE CITIZEN TOO	WEYMOUTH	Massachusetts	Don't sneak in a gas tax....Mass. voters already VOTED AGAINST IT! read more Don't sneak in a gas tax....Mass. voters already VOTED AGAINST IT!	-
11/21/2019	Frank	Gring, Jr.	None	N. ANDOVER	Massachusetts	Most sophomoric idea to be brought up in Massachusetts and that is saying quite a lot. Most sophomoric idea to be brought up in Massachusetts and that is saying quite a lot.	-
11/21/2019	THOMAS	O'MALLEY	self	Topsfield	Massachusetts	Stop non-legislative tax hikes. STOP punishing the citizenry Stop non-legislative tax hikes. STOP punishing the citizenry	-
11/21/2019	Robert	Johnson	Taxpayer	Belchertown	Massachusetts	I completely oppose the TCI. The waste and fraud in government needs to be addressed before any further money is stolen from the taxpayers. I completely oppose the TCI. The waste and fraud in government needs to be addressed before any further money is stolen from the taxpayers.	-
11/21/2019	WALTER	OPANASETS	NONE	BRAINTREE	Massachusetts	TCI - is just another name for a tax. We taxpayers demand a say in this matter, this proposal is forced upon us with any representation. Pathetic proposal by those seeking to impart their ideas... read more TCI - is just another name for a tax. We taxpayers demand a say in this matter, this proposal is forced upon us with any representation. Pathetic proposal by those seeking to impart their ideas upon citizens who may disagree with them. We will be watching!!!!	-
11/21/2019	robert	dibrindisi	driver	easthampton	Massachusetts	As a tractor trailer driver, any extra taxes will increase food and clothing costs for everyone. A tax on fuel and gas won't do anything for the climate. read more As a tractor trailer driver, any extra taxes will increase food and clothing costs for everyone. A tax on fuel and gas won't do anything for the climate.	-
11/21/2019	Kenneth	Rea	None	North Andover	Massachusetts	I am opposed to the TCI tax. It is unfair & ill thought out. I am opposed to the TCI tax. It is unfair & ill thought out.	-
11/21/2019	Gordon	Nelson	Taxpayer	Attleboro	Massachusetts	I am opposed to this proposal. It is another ill-defined, pie-in-the-sky political boondoggle. Its all about handing over more money to a bloated bureaucracy and generating more hack jobs. You... read more I am opposed to this proposal. It is another ill-defined, pie-in-the-sky political boondoggle. Its all about handing over more money to a bloated bureaucracy and generating more hack jobs. You are not kidding anyone.	-
11/21/2019	Finley	Mullally	Massachusetts Tax Payer since. 1979	Quincy	Massachusetts	No more Fuel Taxes, no Carbon Tax...STOP already. Did you know some in the scientific community believe there is a co2 shortage in the world: 407ppm. At a certain point, all plant... read more No more Fuel Taxes, no Carbon Tax...STOP already. Did you know some in the scientific community believe there is a co2 shortage in the world: 407ppm. At a certain point, all plant matter will die due to deprivation of co2: 150ppm...look it up.	-
11/21/2019	d	muraco	none	Needham	Massachusetts	Dear Legislator,While the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance applauds Governor Charlie Baker and his administration’s efforts to reduce pollution in the transportation sector, we have serious concerns... read more Dear Legislator,While the Massachusetts Fiscal Alliance applauds Governor Charlie Baker and his administration’s efforts to reduce pollution in the transportation sector, we have serious concerns with the direction in which the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) is taking our state, all without explicit legislative approval.While taxpayers are the most obvious victims of this situation, individual legislators are greatly affected as well. Rank and file members are being stripped of their prerogatives and denied an opportunity to carry out the duty they were elected to perform. Taxpayers and constituents deserve more and you should demand more.Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides claims the difference between TCI and a gas tax is the point of regulation. This is irrelevant to consumers who will soon be paying more at the pump for this regressive tax scheme. State Rep. William Straus, House Chairmanof the Transportation Committee, recently eluded to TCI as a gas tax, saying,“All states raise their gas tax the same amount at the same time and agree not to call it a gas tax, but I think the public is smarter than that.”This raises the concern that such a far-reaching tax could be implemented without explicit legislative approval process. In an October 1 story, theBoston Globereported that,“...state officials said they likely have authority under the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act to implement the agreement without such a vote.”We would argue that authorization, cast on a voice vote over 10 years ago, with no knowledge of today’s proposal, is not sufficient to enact such a significant piece of policy. Make no mistake: this is a very slippery slope for Massachusetts. Although this is still in the early stages, lawmakers from other states in the TCI agreement are seeking legislative approval. Governor Baker’s administration, whether legally required or not, should also act in good faith and seek legislative approval. If he doesn’t, it’s your job to hold him accountable. There must be an open and transparent legislative process on the details of the agreement.	-
11/22/2019	William	Frawley	none	Falmouth	Massachusetts	No increase in gas tax. Please reduce the expenses already incured by the taxpayers. There are always ways to cut. Massachusetts is one of the top ten states that have residents moving out to... read more No increase in gas tax. Please reduce the expenses already incured by the taxpayers. There are always ways to cut. Massachusetts is one of the top ten states that have residents moving out to other states.	-
11/22/2019	James	Bille	Independent	Quincy	Massachusetts	I strongly oppose this initiative. Bypassing state legislators and giving unchecked power to the governor robs citizens of their voice. Stop punishing hardworking people to make yourselves feel... read more I strongly oppose this initiative. Bypassing state legislators and giving unchecked power to the governor robs citizens of their voice. Stop punishing hardworking people to make yourselves feel better.	-
11/22/2019	Robert	Graci	Taxpayer	Millis	Massachusetts	This must be voted on by our Legislators and not be implemented by fiat. MUST,MUST,MUST be Voted on! This must be voted on by our Legislators and not be implemented by fiat. MUST,MUST,MUST be Voted on!	-
11/22/2019	Jayme	Sharpe	Concern Citizen	Wilbraham	Massachusetts	This is just another tax on citizens. Massachusetts leadership are not fiscally responsible. MA. citizens get screwed enough. This is just another tax on citizens. Massachusetts leadership are not fiscally responsible. MA. citizens get screwed enough.	-
11/22/2019	LEONARD	REMALY	Independent	Wilbraham	Massachusetts	I am strongly opposed to the TCI, to substantially increasing the gas tax, to avoid the people and legislature of Mass to weigh in on the TCI. I have lived on a 2.2 acre plot of land where we had... read more I am strongly opposed to the TCI, to substantially increasing the gas tax, to avoid the people and legislature of Mass to weigh in on the TCI. I have lived on a 2.2 acre plot of land where we had a garden, berry scrubs, trees, etc. that convert carbon dioxide into oxygen for 20 years. Increasing the gas tax will not convert carbon dioxide into oxygen. In addition, if the level of carbon dioxide increases, the growth rate of plants will increase and the conversion of CO2 to Oxygen will increase countering "global warming". Lets not give the Governor of Massachusetts and the state the power to increase gas taxes with out input from the people.	-
11/24/2019	MARK	CARRINGTON	Carrington LLC	East Longmeadow	Massachusetts	An increase of the gas tax should be voted by the people not forced on the people. An increase of the gas tax should be voted by the people not forced on the people.	-
11/24/2019	Dennis	Ford	Mr.	Westport	Massachusetts	Don't do it. read more Don't do it.	-

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