$3.09/gal gas today

^^^Yes Virginia made an (unusual) choice to lower gasoline tax and raise sales tax. The governor actually proposed ZERO state gasoline tax...and he was partially successful. Outside of NoVA and Norfolk areas the sales tax increase is lower, so Virginia decided to selectively tax certain regions of the state.

But what I am currently interested in gasoline tax strategy....the good thing about increasing gaso taxes is the pump price tends to remain unchanged....sort of a free tax. Basically you force the oil companies to lower their wholesale price. OTOH when you reduce gaso taxes like VA has done, again our pump price tends to remain unchanged, so we basically allow higher profit margin to the distributors. So I would like people to focus more on "before tax" gaso price. If you then realize your area is being charged more than the next guy, there could be consumer pressure to ask for fair price.

 

I can not wait until I can get under $30.00 Fill Ups. Right now I am around $32.00, and that cost is almost unmanageable.

 

I recall that one of the so called "quality of life" standards that they had in Virginia was the so called. "semi-annual" every 6 months mandatory car safety inspection sticker. In the 197o's, most all cars, including my '69 Mustang, had drum brakes. The inspection station would almost always get dirt into the front wheel bearing that they had to remove to check the brake linings.

The Colonial pipeline runs right through the Upstate of South Carolina on the way to Virginia. So, gasoline is real cheap, here, even without the taxes.

Like before North Carolina got their own lottery, a very large number of them come across the border to buy gasoline.

 

I tend to agree with you, I would have thought higher gasoline taxes was the correct direction. As Prius owners our attitiude tends to be we are insulated from gaso taxes.

But in my state there became a backlash from the rural areas where, they have to drive long distances to work, and cannot afford a new Prius. The rural areas were upset about higher pump prices, and according to my local elected official, really ticked off that the more affluent and liberal suburb areas could afford Prii to escape the pain at the pump. Also the rural areas have the historic power in our state government, hence we ended up with a new taxes on Prii and a very low state gasoline tax.