Gas tax is right idea, wrong time

The following editorial appeared Tuesday in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin.

There’s little doubt that Walla Walla will benefit from the 9.5 cent gasoline tax imposed by the state Legislature over the weekend. The tax, which will bring in $8.5 billion, will pay for widening nine miles of U.S. Highway 12 west of the city as well as part of the Myra Road Extension Project.

But we side with those who opposed the tax and voted no. …

The timing is simply not right for a gas-tax increase. The state’s economy has been slower to recover from the recession than the rest of the United States.

And the price of gasoline has been soaring so fast in recent weeks that it could hit $3 this summer. Boosting the gas tax by 9.5 cents, even if it is over the next four years, would seem to put Washington at an economic disadvantage with other states.

It’s not only businesses that are hit, however. The additional gas tax hurts consumers at a time when they are already feeling gouged at the pump.

In addition, we aren’t pleased with the way legislative leaders sold the project to lawmakers (and the public).

The gas-tax increase was put on the table as a way to fund two major projects in King County – rebuilding the Alaskan Way Viaduct and the 520 Floating Bridge. Transportation projects around the state were then served to legislators like roast beef at a Sunday dinner as a way to garner their support.

No, make that roast pork.

If legislators didn’t get on board, projects in their districts were threatened. …

It’s our feeling that since the state has already committed to widening Highway 12 to four lanes from Walla Walla to the Tri-Cities and construction has already begun, not passing the gas tax this time around wouldn’t kill the project. It would merely delay it.

Ultimately, we are troubled with the way highway projects were doled out as a way to secure legislative support.

Still, we understand that’s the way of the world – the political world. Given that, we concede we are far happier to see the projects in Walla Walla County funded than not funded. We agree with the assessment of Port of Walla Walla Executive Director Jim Kuntz that this county will receive more gas-tax revenue that its taxpayers will be paying.

OK, Walla Walla wins. But the state of Washington loses.

We don’t believe that boosting the gas tax, even if it benefits this county, is worth putting the state’s economy at risk.