TCI Regional Policy Design Stakeholder Submissions

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!!!!

What in the heck are all of you trying to do in the state of Vermont. Our legislature has made our state affordable for all except the rich and the people on welfare. This ends up being another tax on the working class of the state that are already overburdened with with the expense of living here. This is a rural state where people have to drive to get to a job that pays a pittance to what other areas of the country pay for the same work. Please reconsider this tax and get the heck out of the 12 state plan. You have priced my family and other families out of the state. We will be leaving in the spring. YOU WILL NOT GET ANY MORE TAXES FROM US!

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.

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.

This is just another tax on citizens. Massachusetts leadership are not fiscally responsible. MA. citizens get screwed enough.

An increase of the gas tax should be voted by the people not forced on the people.