Coalition Open Letter To the Honorable Governor Daniel McKee - Business and Citizens Groups Oppose the TCI Gas Tax

Microsoft Word - RI Draft Coalition Opposition Letter to TCI Coalition Open Letter To the Honorable Governor Daniel McKee Business and Citizens Groups Oppose the TCI Gas Tax April 20, 2021 Dear Governor McKee: We call on you to fulfill your commitment to small businesses by withdrawing our state from the TCI MOU. [...] As our entire state struggles to recover from the devastating medical and economic impact of the pandemic, now is clearly not the time to impose major new fuel taxes on our businesses and families; taxes that hasten the already debilitating exodus of vital business investors and working families – and the billions in wealth they take with them – away from our shores. [...] Despite claims to the contrary, this cap-and-trade scheme for gasoline would artificially and necessarily have to raise the price of fuel by up to 38 cents per gallon over 5 years; and would place additional burdens on businesses, not only at the pump, but by increasing the costs of vehicle-delivered goods and services. [...] And, unlike reasonable gas taxes to generate funds to pay for transportation infrastructure, the TCI gas tax is designed to be a “sin tax” – a penalty for engaging in what proponents view as bad behavior – and none of the TCI funds can be used to maintain or repair bridges and roads; only off-budget for ‘green’ projects. [...] For these reasons, we respectfully call on you to take executive action to officially withdraw Rhode Island from the TCI MOU and to publicly pledge to veto any legislation that commits our state, in any way, to the TCI regional compact.