COLLIER: Colorado Gas Tax Hike: Another Burden on Hardworking Families
Colorado Gas Tax Hike: Another Burden on Hardworking Families
Starting July 1, Coloradans will be hit with yet another grab to their take-home pay - this time at the pump. The state's road usage fee is set to increase from 3 cents per gallon to 4 cents per gallon, with the environmental fee portion set to more than double from 0.6 cents per gallon to nearly 1.3 cents per gallon. These fees are in addition to the already hefty 22-cent gas tax, bringing the total taxes and fees to nearly 28 cents per gallon.
This increase, once again, impacts hardworking Colorado families making it even more expensive to fill up their tanks. And, of course, the tone deafness from the so-called “party of the working class,” the Democrats, is on full display.
In a state where fees and taxes compete to see which can enter orbit first, it was noticeable that Governor Jared Polis attempted to buck the ideologues of his party and coerce his EPA friends to grant a waiver to Colorado. That request was met swiftly with a denial (although his Democrat friends in D.C. left the door open to it if “supply” was threatened). Polis's involvement only came after he saw political pressure would become unavoidable, highlighting how disconnected the $250 million-plus net worth leader is from the financial realities faced by all of us.
The justification for these hikes is to help curb the use of fossil fuels, namely within the metro area (which also happens to be where the highest consumption rates in gasoline also takes place). Other components of the gas tax go to road investments and upkeep. But when coupled with the 40% pop in property taxes over the last 24 months as well as increases to fees across the board for every Democrat boondoogle in the state budget, the burden continues to fall disproportionately on the shoulders of those who can least afford it. Families who rely on their cars for commuting to work, school, and running essential errands get to feel even more strain of these increased costs – not to mention, inflation.
Polis's delayed response raises questions about his priorities. And closer to Douglas County, Rep. “Biden Bob” Marshall is nowhere to be found on making the cost of living in Colorado any more reasonable or attainable. The lack of proactive leadership up and down the Democrat ranks is exactly what Republicans have highlighted for at least 2 years. Instead of imposing more taxes on gasoline, a regressive approach that hits lower- and middle-income families the hardest who don’t get the privilege of mileage per diem reimbursement like Mr. Marshall, state leaders should be clamoring to find more relief for our people.
Good luck there.
Fortunately, Republicans continue to advocate for policies that don’t penalize hard work and thriftiness. This gas tax hike is a clear example of more government overreach, where the state opts for the easy route of increasing taxes rather than making tough budgetary decisions. We must demand accountability and transparency from our elected officials and ensure they work in the best interests of all Coloradans, not just for their special interest donors in the environmental lobby.
November gives us an opportunity to put out to pasture those who just don’t get it, or more accurately, simply just don’t care.
Steve Collier
Highlands Ranch, CO
Editor’s note: This is part of a series of opinion letters on Colorado legislation written by Mr. Collier, a precinct committee person serving the DCGOP.
