Discussion re Possible Amendment to our Transporation/Environment Statement

[Will Brownsberger]

Greetings, folks:

At our last meeting, the subject of amending the gas tax bullet in our statement was raised.  I resisted that suggestion at the time because I was concerned about the additional process that might require for groups that had signed on.

On reflection and based on several conversations with reps who haven't been part of our process so far, it seems worth considering the following change.

Currently, the bullet reads:

A responsible gas tax increase needs to be part of the solution -- to provide adequate funds dedicated to transportation, but also to encourage economy in automobile use.

The proposed amendment would read:

A responsible gas tax increase would encourage economy in automobile use and merits consideration if thorough reforms do not provide adequate savings to meet transportation needs.

After some persuasion from others, I think this bullet as amended does more fairly reflect the role of our group -- our group has not done the work to determine the magnitude of the transportation funding gap and the actual fiscal need for a gas tax increase.  I think we want to add the environmental issues to the mix and this amended bullet still does that.  

It seems clear that so amended, our statement has a better chance of achieving a high rate of buy-in.  Many reps are not quite through with their thinking about the gas tax.

Please take a minute to weigh in promptly, even if only to advise that the change seems so substantive that your group would need to go through its endorsement process again.  If the response through the close of business on Friday seems to reflect a consensus that this change is not controversial, we'll just go ahead and make it.

NOTE:  Replies to this message will go to the whole group.  If you prefer to only reply back to me, you'll need to edit the address line.

All best,

/w.

--


Will Brownsberger
State Representative, (617) 771-8274 (cell)
Visit www.willbrownsberger.com for news.

[Berl Hartman]

Will,

I would not be willing to sign the revision... Its too watered down.

berl

-----------

Berl Hartman

be...@berlhartman.com

Phone: 617 497-0393

Cell:      617 308-9012

[Carrie Russell]

It is well documented that reforms alone will not be adequate to meet our transportation needs.  CLF has publicly stated this fact.  It would likely be difficult for us to sign the revised statement as suggested.

 

 

 

Carrie Russell

Staff Attorney

Conservation Law Foundation

62 Summer Street

Boston, MA 02110

PH: 617-850-1739

crus...@clf.org; www.clf.org

 

---

[Lilah Glick]

Clean Water Action would like to chime in support of us keeping with the
original sign on letter, especially since we have been actively getting
new sign-ons to the transportation letter. There is a big difference
between saying a gas tax needs to be part of the mix instead of merits
consideration. This is not only an environmental imperative but it is a
responsible call for tax payer fairness, making our transportation
system solvent, and would pay for necessary transportation repairs and
debts.

--
Lilah Glick
Global Warming Coordinator
Clean Water Action
www.cleanwateraction.org/ma/

262 Washington St #301
Boston, MA 02108
617-338-8131 x202
617-338-6449 fax

This message (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the person(s) to whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you receive this message in error, please notify me immediately by email, telephone, or fax, and delete the original message from your records. Thank you.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
Henry David Thoreau

Carrie Russell wrote:
>
> It is well documented that reforms alone will not be adequate to meet
> our transportation needs. CLF has publicly stated this fact. It
> would likely be difficult for us to sign the revised statement as
> suggested.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Carrie Russell
>
> Staff Attorney
>
> Conservation Law Foundation
>
> 62 Summer Street
>
> Boston, MA 02110
>
> PH: 617-850-1739
>

> crus...@clf.org <mailto:crus...@clf.org>; www.clf.org
> <http://www.clf.org>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* transportationen...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:transportationen...@googlegroups.com] *On Behalf
> Of *Berl Hartman
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 21, 2009 4:52 PM
> *To:* transportationen...@googlegroups.com
> *Subject:* Re: Discussion re Possible Amendment to our

> Transporation/Environment Statement
>
>
>
> Will,
>
>
>
> I would not be willing to sign the revision... Its too watered down.
>
>
>
> berl
>
> -----------
>
> Berl Hartman
>

> be...@berlhartman.com <mailto:be...@berlhartman.com>

> *NOTE: Replies to this message will go to the whole group. If you
> prefer to only reply back to me, you'll need to edit the address line.*

>
>
>
> All best,
>
>
>
> /w.
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>
> Will Brownsberger
> State Representative, (617) 771-8274 (cell)

> Visit www.willbrownsberger.com <http://www.willbrownsberger.com> for news.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> No virus found in this incoming message.
> Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com
> Version: 8.0.176 / Virus Database: 270.10.12/1909 - Release Date: 1/22/2009 7:08 AM
>

[Lilah Glick]

Clean Water Action would like to chime in support of us keeping with the
original sign on letter, especially since we have been actively getting
new sign-ons to the transportation letter. There is a big difference
between saying a gas tax needs to be part of the mix instead of merits
consideration. This is not only an environmental imperative but it is a
responsible call for tax payer fairness, making our transportation
system solvent, and would pay for necessary transportation repairs and
debts.

--
Lilah Glick
Global Warming Coordinator
Clean Water Action
www.cleanwateraction.org/ma/

262 Washington St #301
Boston, MA 02108
617-338-8131 x202
617-338-6449 fax

This message (including any attachments) is intended only for the use of the person(s) to whom it is addressed, and may contain information that is privileged, confidential, and exempt from disclosure under applicable law. If you receive this message in error, please notify me immediately by email, telephone, or fax, and delete the original message from your records. Thank you.

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined."
Henry David Thoreau



Carrie Russell wrote:
>

> It is well documented that reforms alone will not be adequate to meet
> our transportation needs. CLF has publicly stated this fact. It
> would likely be difficult for us to sign the revised statement as
> suggested.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Carrie Russell
>
> Staff Attorney
>
> Conservation Law Foundation
>
> 62 Summer Street
>
> Boston, MA 02110
>
> PH: 617-850-1739
>

> crus...@clf.org <mailto:crus...@clf.org>; www.clf.org
> <http://www.clf.org>
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> *From:* transportationen...@googlegroups.com
> [mailto:transportationen...@googlegroups.com] *On Behalf
> Of *Berl Hartman
> *Sent:* Wednesday, January 21, 2009 4:52 PM
> *To:* transportationen...@googlegroups.com

> *Subject:* Re: Discussion re Possible Amendment to our

> Transporation/Environment Statement
>
>
>
> Will,
>
>
>
> I would not be willing to sign the revision... Its too watered down.
>
>
>
> berl
>
> -----------
>
> Berl Hartman
>

> be...@berlhartman.com <mailto:be...@berlhartman.com>

> *NOTE: Replies to this message will go to the whole group. If you
> prefer to only reply back to me, you'll need to edit the address line.*

>
>
>
> All best,
>
>
>
> /w.
>
>
>
>
> --
>
>
> Will Brownsberger
> State Representative, (617) 771-8274 (cell)

[Berl Hartman]

Will & Others,

I agree with the others that the revised statement is not
acceptable. The original statement -- that a gas tax must be part
of the solution -- seems to me to be self-evident given the dire
situation.

Moreover, given that the Speaker of the House, the Boston Globe, and
The Transportation Finance Committee have all agreed with that
statement -- it hardly seems controversial.

Berl Hartman
E2 New England Chapter Leader


-----------
Berl Hartman

be...@berlhartman.com

Phone: 617 497-0393
Cell: 617 308-9012

[Lucas, Barbara]

Hi, Will -

This new language would represent a step back for us. A staff member from Sen. Baddour's office spoke to the MAPC Executive Committee yesterday and indicated an expectation that the reform bill sponsored by the Senator could result in around $4 billion savings - give or take. This number is less than the $6.5 billion originally suggested for the reform bill. Either number is a far cry from the $15 - 19 billion that the Finance Commission identified as the gap - just for operations and maintenance. MAPC is on record and our Executive Committee has supported a slate of revenue and reform items including a gas tax increase of $0.15.

MAPC would support the original language over the proposed amendment.

Thanks,
Barbara

Barbara G. Lucas
Manager, Transportation Planning
Metropolitan Area Planning Council
60 Temple Place
Boston, MA 02111
617-451-2770 ext. 2043
blu...@mapc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: transportationen...@googlegroups.com [mailto:transportationen...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Berl Hartman