KY Club for Growth: Drees Tax Plan Bad Idea
From Pat Crowley at nky.com:
Kenton County Judge-executive Ralph Drees says the U.S. government should raise the federal gas tax to pay for the replacement of the Interstate 75/71 Brent Spence Bridge.
Drees, a Crescent Springs Republican not seeking re-election, said because of the costs of materials and studies, major infrastructure projects are too expensive to be paid for from existing federal and state tax revenues.
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"If we need the money to build something ... we have to raise it," Drees said in an interview after the event. "We've had the same gas tax over how many years now?
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"The very last thing we need in this economy is more taxes," said Brian Richmond, a Fort Mitchell attorney and president of the Kentucky Club for Growth. "The responsibility for the Brent Spence Bridge belongs to the federal government.
"Why should working families in Kentucky be asked to pay for a bridge that benefits the entire eastern portion of the United States from Michigan to Miami?" Richmond said.
"I completely understand the need to get the bridge built, but we in the Commonwealth should not pay more than our fair share. Let's begin the dialogue about wasted tax dollars on completely useless earmarked projects before we ever start talking about raising another tax."
