Maine’s reputation of being one of the most heavily taxed states in the country is well deserved. Maine is also regarded as a go-to state for those seeking government handouts. In the past few days I’ve been reading a bunch of articles about truckers demanding more State welfare.
I’m sure if I had readers this post might ruffle a few feathers but that’s OK. I don’t mind.
Until recently I had no idea that logging truck operators received a rebate of their State diesel fuel taxes. Yes, the very taxes that are supposed to pay for the upkeep of the damage caused by logging trucks to rural roads all over Maine. There’s a budget crisis in this State, we have crumbling roads and bridges and yet the State rebates the fuel taxes for thousands of log trucks operating on our roads. Now the truckers are lobbying the Governor to set up a new system to process those rebates faster or possibly completely eliminate the fuel tax at the pump for those that qualify.
My wife and I purchased a 2005 VW Jetta TDI a couple of years ago. We’re feeling the effects of $3.65/gallon diesel fuel. Thankfully we get an average of 45 MPG not 4 MPG like a heavily loaded log truck. But we still are paying the high prices too. Why shouldn’t we qualify for some type of relief from the State? These kinds of special interest tax rebates are nothing more than welfare in my opinion.
I do understand the economic contribution that the logging and wood products industries have in rural Maine. Many rural communities have been hard hit by the loss of wood products businesses. The town we live in has lost two mills in the last five years. I also understand that most log truck operators are small family-owned businesses that are struggling to survive. I’m not insensitive to the the harsh economic realities of the global market for the products they haul around this state. I have friends and neighbors that drive log trucks who are out the door at 3:30 am and don’t get home until 4:00 pm just to scratch out a meager living for their families. I do understand the impact.
If the Governor gets his way I wonder how convoluted the tax reporting system will be for the fuel retailers? I’m sure it will end up just being another shuffling of tax burden. I wonder how much it’s going to cost the State and fuel retailers to implement these changes? These kinds of emergency “solutions” are rarely well implemented.
However, if your business can’t survive without state kickbacks, rebates, welfare, grants, etc., then maybe you’re in the wrong line of work. I don’t understand the mentality of these fuel tax rebates. The logging industry generates more wear and tear on roads in our area than any other traffic type. Why are they exempt from paying for the upkeep of roads? Our tiny Jetta doesn’t weigh 100,000 pounds yet we pay the fuel tax. What line do I need to stand in to get my rebate? I’d happily do so.
It should not be the government’s role to keep businesses afloat. It’s the government’s responsibility to keep the roads in good condition to maintain the flow of commerce throughout the State yet they don’t have the funds to do that properly.