Marty Lamb, a Massachusetts small business owner, posted an article at the Holliston-Hopkinton Patch yesterday about the coming hikes in the Massachusetts gasoline tax. The article was entitled, “To Infinity and Beyond” and stated the following:

The new normal is over $3.50 per gallon. This high price is stretching family budgets.  Whether it is filling up at the pump or buying food trucked to the market, we are getting hit hard in the wallets.

The situation is going to get worse if Beacon Hill lawmakers have their way.

Right now, a committee consisting of 3 House and 3 Senate members are meeting to negotiate the differences between the two tax bills. It is not a matter if the gas tax is increasing it is a matter of how much and how often.  

What do I mean?  

If the tax package is signed into law the gas tax will be forever linked to inflation.  It is the gas tax increase “to infinity and beyond.”  In other words, there will be an automatic gas tax increase every year. And the legislature never has to vote to raise it again.  How convenient.  But for the rest of us, it means taxation without representation.  

There is no need for higher taxes.  This week’s report from the Auditor shows close to $100 million in fraud just within the Department of Transitional assistance (welfare).  The crime lab scandal is costing us $332 million. Overall it is estimated $1.8 billion of waste.  

I urge readers to call the State House (617-722-2000) and express their opinion on the gas tax.  There is no need for the tax increase and it should not be automatic.  Taxation without representation should not be tolerated.

If the bill being discussed is passed, the State of Massachusetts can automatically raise gasoline taxes without a vote by the legislature. Therefore, no one has to go on the record and be held accountable for the tax increase. This is a liberal lawmaker’s dream and a taxpayer’s nightmare.