FLCC> Is the NY State Senate nuts?

[William Lodico]

"Yes," is probably the charitable answer.  We can think of other  
things to call them. "Panderers," "Snake oil salesmen," are high on  
the list.

Yesterday, 5/7/08, the New York State Senate passed a bill, S7594-B,  
suspending state gasoline/motor fuel taxes Memorial Day through Labor  
Day.

We can leave it to the economists to discuss the impact of this bill  
with respect to the potential for increased demand and consumption of  
motor fuel, increase in cost, increased dependence on imported oil,  
etc, etc.

 From our perspective as cyclists, it looks like exactly the wrong  
way to go.  More, bigger, cars squeezing us off the roads; less money  
for roadways; more pot holes, cracks, and broken pavement; and the  
waste of an opportunity to let the market, for once, work its so- 
called magic in the right direction.

Can anyone find a roll call for the Senate vote?  In the meantime,  
here's a summary of the homework they did, before passing the bill, from

http://public.leginfo.state.ny.us/menugetf.cgi

"FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
"To be determined.

"LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
"To be determined."

Bread and circuses, anyone?

Hopefully better sense will prevail in the Assembly and the  
Governor's office.

You can help them on that front:

http://assembly.state.ny.us/mem/

http://www.state.ny.us/governor/contact/index.html