Peggy Fikac of the Houston Chronicle ran an article this morning chalk full of the same lame gas tax hike sales antics. This time the tax hike proposal is coming from a new source, Senator Steve Ogden.
In her article Fikac trivializes the increase in taxation by saying things like, “pay a little more,” “a few cents a gallon” and notes diligently that the gas tax “hasn’t been raised in years” while failing to mention revenues have gone up 9/10 years running. These are the same tricks that lawmakers and proponents used in 2009 while trying to increase taxes.
Other aspects of the article are downright laughable. For instance Fikac says that taxpayers are being “given a chance” to increase our taxes. That is the collective sound of Texans hitting the floor. Don’t be fooled it’s not the sound of bended knees rushing to bow in thanks to Fikac and Ogden for the opportunity to raise our taxes. No, it is us rolling around laughing. An aside, have you ever been given the chance to lower your taxes?
The pompous nature of the article and entire scheme continues with Ogden presenting an oft used false dichotomy or false choice; either you vote for the gas tax increase or we will continue to borrow to pay for road improvements. Texans deserve leadership that is going to be responsible with our funds but more importantly leadership that is not going to jerk us around.
Apparently Ogden has not been paying attention to the tone of Texans or needs a memory refresher. Texans need to shoot Ogden’s trial balloon from the sky and note that the DMN editorial board has a disciple/copycat in Fikac.