Become and informed motorist, taxpayer and voter.......

To: National Center for Public Analysis

Date: December 27, 2004

Toll Roads, the Constitution and Public Policy

"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

I recently visited your web site and read some of the information about using "tolls" to fund highways.

My first reaction was to say/yell/scream "Please don't say that tolls are a "user fee"!! This "user fee" concept is so politically motivated and so bogus. I know why wealthy, greedy, self-serving politicians promote this type of propaganda, but citizens' watch groups, such as NCPA need to think about what toll taxes really represent and what the true cost of "toll abuse" is. It is also important to define (or redefine) "public policy" and the role of government in the area of transportation. Our transportation system is critical to our economy and our quality of life. Thus, it is critical to our general welfare, our liberty and our posterity. So, please read the following information and reconsider the "user fee" campaign and report what tolls on our highways really are - bigger government, higher taxes, more undue influence of Special Interest Groups (SIGs) on public policy and an exclusive system that does not promote the general welfare and liberty for all Americans. As the previous paragraph suggests, I strongly oppose the addition of tolls to our Interstate highway system (and any highway). Tolling is the most expensive and ineffective way to raise funds for roads and to relieve traffic congestion. I can easily say this because I live in Central Florida and I have been a victim of "toll abuse" for many years. I know first hand that tolls are an abusive and regressive form of taxation. Yes. Tolls are taxes (monies paid to a governmental entity (in this case the State of Florida) for public services). The fact is, there have been no new "Freeways" built in Central Florida since 1957. And while we have an excellent highway infrastructure in Central Florida, our traffic congestion continues to get worse. This is because Central Florida has a restricted/exclusive system that is not truly accessible to all of the people. If the goal of our public policy is to improve transportation for the least tax dollars, then toll taxes are the wrong answer. If it is the goal of our public policies to promote the general welfare of all of the people and promote stability in our economy than toll taxes are the wrong answer. There are some very basic accounting facts that support the statement that toll taxes are the wrong answer for improving transportation for the least money and for promoting the general welfare of the people. Please consider the following facts: 1) The fact is tolls are taxes. The political rhetoric of "user fees" is nothing more than an attempt by elected officials to put a positive spin on a significant tax increase. Yes. The addition of tolls to our Interstate system is a tax increase. Our elected officials will never say it out loud, but the fact is the addition of toll taxes to our Interstate system is a tax increase - plain and simple. Political propaganda does not change this fact. At the same time, if toll taxes are a "user fee" than what is the gas tax we pay at the pump? Isn't that a "user fee"? What about the federal taxes we pay for tires? Isn't that a "user fee". Transit riders don't pay gas taxes at the pump. Transit riders don't pay taxes for tires. They also don't pay auto registration fees, licensing fees, etc. etc. Only drivers (highway users) pay these taxes. The highway user is already paying a substantial amount of "user fees" (aka taxes) for the use of our roads. Thus, tolls are a double taxation on a public service. Toll taxes allow and encourage current transportation taxes to be diverted to non-transportation expenses. It has been estimated that at least $40 billion tax dollars from the Highway Trust Fund has been diverted to non-highway expenses. These are tax dollars (user fees) paid by the highway users. 2) The American Freeway has never been "free". The motorist has been paying multiple "user fees" (aka transportation taxes) forever. The problem is that the user fee/taxes that the motorist pays today (and there are many), are not used exclusively for the highways and roadways as they were intended. Thus, the American motorist is paying "user fees" for non-highway/roadway services they don't use. Thus, "highway robbery" of the American motorist. 3) Gas taxes are the most efficient "user fee" there is. This is basic accounting. The rate of gas collection at the pump is substantially less than all the cost associated with toll collections. Toll taxes on average cost 15 cents per highway mile. This equates to about a $3.00 per gallon gas tax. If given all of the facts about toll taxes versus gas taxes, the voters and motorists will always support the gas tax because it is the least expensive thing to do and it is a true user fee. Additionally, there are many other ways to increase highway revenues through other "user fees" that are more cost effective than toll taxes (registration fees, sales tax on automobiles, licensing, etc.). Revenues can be increased with basically no increase in operational expenses. This is not true for toll collection systems. However, the SIGs that build and operate toll systems have many many lobbyist at work in Washington, DC. These lobbyist are not interested in promoting the general welfare of the American people and unfortunately, it appears that our elected officials are not too interested in doing that either. The figures don't lie, toll taxes are the most expensive method of tax collection and they are the least effective in reducing traffic congestion because they limit access to the system. With these basic facts in mind, why would our elected leaders promote a high tax system that does not provide maximum relief for traffic congestion? What is the goal of our public policy? 4) Toll taxes increase the cost of living for every American. This is something toll road proponents never want to talk about. The fact is, toll taxes are substantial. The cost of transporting goods across the country will increase substantially. These cost will be passed on to every American regardless of their direct use of the highways. Thus, those who can least afford it, will pay the most. Elderly individuals that are on a fixed income and do not drive will pay a price for this abusive transportation tax. Toll taxes are extremely regressive - it is just that simple. Those who do not drive or cannot afford to pay to use the tollway, will pay at the grocery store and every other type of goods and services that are delivered via the highway system. This again is why it is political propaganda to promote the notion of "user fees" without addressing all the cost associated with toll taxes. 5) Toll taxes are unfair to small businesses. Over the past 5 years, I have spoken with many small business owners that must commute across town to service customers. They reported to me that their monthly toll tax bill is $1400+ per month. That is an excessive tax burden for a small business. 6) Toll roads create gridlock and increase pollution. By creating a limited access (restricted) highway infrastructure, the expressway system is not used to full capacity, many lower-middle income citizens are prohibited from using it, because they cannot afford $100+ per month in additional taxes.. This results in more traffic on secondary roads and all the air pollution that comes with it. 7) The Interstate highway system is critical to our economy and impacts every American. Wendell Cox authored the book; "The Best Investment a Nation Ever Made; A Tribute to the Dwight D. Eisenhower System of Interstate and Defense Highways". In this book, Wendell Cox reported "the system is in reality a gift from one group of people --- highway users --- to the nation as a whole, which has reaped a gain of at least $6 in benefit for each $1 spent in construction" and "there are additional benefits such as higher employment rates and greater economic opportunity that are simply beyond quantification". Wendell Cox also stated "the interstate highway system is the "work horse" of the nation's highway system. Representing just over one percent of the nation's highway system mileage, the interstate highway system carries nearly one quarter (23 percent) of all roadway traffic, more than 20 times its one percent share measured in mileage, and more than 60 times as many person miles as all passenger rail services (Amtrak and Urban rail)." The facts easily support that America's freeway system has served the people and the nation well. However, the addition of tolls will significantly alter and reduce the benefit we realize today. It is reckless disregard to use the Interstate highway system to fund pork projects or less effective transportation systems (i.e. light rail, high-speed rail). It is also highway robbery to assess a double taxation against the motorist that already pays multiple "user fees" for the highway system. The addition of toll taxes to our Interstate system in nothing more than an circumlocutory way to recoup the "tax cuts" and increase tax revenues without "reversing" the recent tax cuts or "increasing" income taxes. These are political games that sacrifice the well being of the typical lower-middle class American. Lower-middle income Americans will pay the biggest price for this tax scam and ultimately, it will increase the cost of goods and services for every household and lower the standard of living for lower-middle income Americans. This is what happens when there is too much pork and to little representation in Washington, DC. It is up to organizations such as NCPA to shine a light on this type of political abuse and inform Americans of the financial impacts of this type of abusive, regressive taxation. 8) The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1938 called for a study of a toll road network. The 1939 report "Toll Roads and Free Roads" reported that a toll superhighway would not be financially feasible. The report endorsed "A Master Plan for Free Highway Development". This was the beginning of the what would become the Interstate freeway system. Toll road systems have never been popular - they were not popular in 1938 and they are not popular today. Some polls indicate that 70% of Americans oppose tolling highways. 9) The Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 created the Interstate highway system. The system was designed as a "pay as you go" and has always been funded by the user via taxes on motor fuel, tires, trucks and buses. Originally, 90% of the funding came from federal taxes and 10% came from state taxes. The "Highway Trust Fund" was established as an accounting mechanism for restricting highway user tax revenues to highway purposes. It was the Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1973 that allowed states to use funds from the "Highway Trust Fund" for mass transportation (non-highway purposes). The Surface Transportation Act of 1987, transferred the authority over apportioning funds for Interstates from Congress to the Secretary of Transportation and encouraged states and localities to develop mass transportation systems. In 1990,Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA-90), which diverted 2.5 cents of a 5-cent- per-gallon increase from the Highway Trust Fund to the general fund of the Treasury. In 1993, Congress again diverted gasoline tax revenues to the general fund. These actions have weakened the 'user-pays' principle on which the Highway Trust Fund was originally established. In my opinion, it is time for the "American Freeway Act" that requires all taxes paid by highway users to be used exclusively for the highways - a true "user fee". Needless to say, most elected officials will reject anything that limits funding for pork projects or other opportunities to be reckless with the people's money. Once again, it is up to organizations such as NCPA to shine a light on this type of political abuse and inform Americans of the financial impacts of this type of abusive, regressive taxation. Americans must take action to stop the unethical and reckless abuse of power by our elected officials. 10) Toll taxes divert funds from the local economy. The money spent paying toll taxes is removed from the local economy. This will cost local businesses and reduces local sales tax revenues. While wealthier individuals will not notice an additional $100+ per month in their tax bill, lower and middle class families will. This is a substantial tax increase. It is much greater increase than the recent tax refund check they received. Lower-middle class Americans will have to make the tough decision to use the toll roads and reduce their regular spending or to use secondary roads that take longer, but save money. This type of transportation system does not promote the general welfare for all Americans. It is just that simple. 11) Toll roads mean bigger government, higher taxes and more undue influence from the Special Interest Groups (SIGs). In the case of Florida, the state has multiple (redundant) transportation authorities throughout the state. The board members are appointed by the governor and have absolutely no accountability to the local citizens. These authorities are allowed to issue bonds and increase toll taxes at will. In essence, they (not the people) control public policy. In the case of the Orlando Orange County Expressway Authority (OOCEA), the chairman of the board is a developer and has the opportunity to influence the growth in the area. In one case (that I know of) the same legal counsel represented the OOCEA and a group of developers. In my opinion, this is a conflict of interest and does not serve the best interest of the people. Public policy should support the public and not the SIGs. There is something seriously wrong when the SIGs own and control public policy in America. I know I have stated it several time before, but here I go again, it is up to organizations such as NCPA to shine a light on this type of political abuse and inform Americans of the financial impacts of this type of abusive, regressive taxation. Americans must take action to stop the unethical and reckless abuse of power by our elected and appointed officials. Toll abuse in Florida is the perfect example of self-serving, out-of-control leadership. 12) As I see it, there are three key problems with the current funding of transportation today. a) Current gas and transportation taxes (user fees) are diverted to non-highway expenses (general fund). Thus, the "user fees" that motorists pay today, are not used for the highways. This equates to "highway robbery" of the motorist by elected officials. b) Elected officials are reckless and irresponsible with the people's money. I can provide many example such as the "bridges to nowhere" that prove this point beyond any reasonable doubt. c) Elected officials refuse to be honest with the people about their reckless spending and the fact that they divert our current highway taxes to non-highway expenses. The financial fact is toll taxes have absolutely nothing to do with funding our highways. Toll taxes have everything to do with maintaining the status-quo of diverting the current highway taxes (aka user fees) to other non-critical pork projects. The toll taxes will continue to increase until all highway taxes are used for anything and everything but the highways. This is fraud against the American motorist. We already pay multiple transportation taxes for use of the roads. We need to reform the out-of-control spending in DC. We do not need to create new taxes to assess to the motorists for the purpose of recouping tax cuts and providing more funds for more reckless spending. We need some ethics and honesty in public office. 13) Then there is the really big question....How should we define (or redefine) public policy and what is the role of our government in the area of transportation? Should our government promote the general welfare of the people by providing an effective, cost efficient transportation system that is available to all citizens? Should the private sector own and control the Interstate highway system? Should government patrol the Interstate highway system and create laws governing the use of any transportation system (airport security, seat belts, licensing, etc.)? These are some tough questions. In my opinion, public policy should support the public and should not be controlled by SIGs. In my opinion, we must have an effective, efficient transportation system that supports all of the people. Transportation is critical to our well-being and cannot be easily privatized in a competitive market. If it were possible to have multiple consumer choices - to use the best roads or expressways for the price, I would support privatization of the highways, but there is not enough land to allow the free enterprise to offer commuters the choice of many expressway systems - a highway system is not the same as providing multiple restaurants, retail stores or car lots. Thus, there can be no true competitive market place for this type of service. To privatize the highway system, is to create a monopoly against the best interest of the people. As I see it, the role of government is to provide the network that will support the private sector in providing services for the local market (cars, taxi services, mass transit, air travel, etc.). This is a very high-level view of public policy and the role of government in the area of transportation. It is not intended to provide the complete definition of public policy or the role of government in the area of transportation. It is intended to promote discussion and to consider all the aspects of privatizing a service that has no competition and is critical to the welfare of the people. 14) Last, but not least...........The news media has failed to disclose all the facts about toll taxes. I have included an email that I recently sent to CNN which includes an article I wrote "Highway Robbery of the American Taxpayer - The Unreported Tax Scam". This article discusses many of the same issues I just shared with you, but more importantly, it shows how money and undue influence is destroying the "freedom of the press". Freedom of the press was supposed to provide oversight into the actions of our government, but in today's political arena, the media is being controlled/censored by those in public office and other financial influences. Thus, the public is not properly informed about issues such as toll abuse. I will do my best to share facts about toll abuse and other questionable actions taken by our elected officials by contacting organizations such as NCPA and participating in public forums as much as possible. Hopefully, NCPA will post this article on their web-site and challenge the current "user fee" campaign for increasing taxes for transportation. I hope that NCPA will take the time to seriously consider the true impact of toll taxes on our transportation system and our economy. While the "user fee" concept is political acceptable, it is less than accurate or in the best interest of the people. Unfortunately, due to the undue influence of money in government today, we the people cannot depend on our "Representatives" to work in our best interest. The people must take the time to be fully informed. It is through organizations such as NCPA that citizens share information with citizens and encourage citizens to assume their role in our system. Please share this information with your members and visitors to your web-site. I am a strong believer that the informed voter always make the right decision. Please drive safely, be safe and help stop toll abuse in America - help save the American Freeway. Sincerely,Sally BaptisteA Citizen for Ethics and Accountability in GovernmentA Citizen for Reform in Education, Transportation and Campaign Finance3936 S Semoran Blvd, PMB #351, Orlando, FL 32822407-761-9016 =====================================Here is the email and article sent to CNN.====================================== To: CNN In the Money CNN On the Story CNN Late Edition CNN Lou Dobbs CNN News Editors CNN Financial Reporters CNN Political Reporters CNN Reliable Sources Date: December 13, 2004 Re: "The Most Trusted Name in News" Fails to Report the Facts about Superficial Tax Cuts and the Double/Triple Taxation of Transportation Everyday CNN claims to be "the most trusted name in news" and their number one competitor claims to be "fair and balanced". It is very apparent that the news media is trying desperately to improve it's image and convince the public that they can be trusted to report the news and that their reporting is "fair and balanced". Various news media shows frequently discuss the overall loss of credibility and the declining respect Americans have for the news media. At times, the news media seems confused about this attitude towards them. Well, I know why I am losing trust and respect for the news media. I will gladly tell you why I have lost a lot of faith in today's reporting and I will give you a specific example of the news media's failure to report important facts that affect every American everyday. As a general statement about today's news reporting, it is apparent to me that the news media is controlled by political and financial influences. "Freedom of the Press" is far from free anymore. In my opinion, today's Press is controlled by elected officials and the fear or risk of adverse responses from advertisers. Thus, the American people, now have controlled/censored reporting. How un-American is that?? It should also be noted that more and more news outlets are owned/controlled by the same corporations and this too creates a form of controlled/censored reporting. Bottom line, today's news reporting is far from thorough, fair or balanced. How can the people trust or respect this type of reporting? For the purpose of qualifying my opinion about news reporting, I will address the failure of CNN to properly report on American taxes and highway robbery of the American taxpayer. In my opinion............ As a fiscal conservative that fights tax abuse on a daily basis, I am totally frustrated and disgusted with the lack of proper reporting on the reckless governmental spending and abusive, excessive taxes forced upon the American taxpayer. The news media has done a very very poor job of reporting how superficial the tax cuts have been for the average American taxpayer. The news media has failed to adequately report all the new and increased taxes that are the result of the tax cuts. It is very apparent to me that our elected leaders continue to be reckless with the people's money ($388 Billion Omnibus Bill) and they continue to play political games with so-called tax cuts. This behavior of our elected leaders is extremely unethical, immoral and outrageous. I believe that their actions speak volumes and are the direct result of greed and uncontrolled power. The sad fact is, today's typical elected official is no longer a public servant or a representative of the people. The part that I simply cannot understand is the complacency on the part of the news media. The news media has been nothing short of negligent on their reporting of tax abuse. It once again appears to me that the news media is controlled by the elected officials. This is so un-American. Whatever happened to freedom of the press? Freedom of the press isn't free if it is controlled by those elected to public office. I need to know how the news media can justify this negligence. Please explain to me and my fellow Americans why you continually fail to report these facts and why we should trust and respect your reporting. How can CNN be "the most trusted name in news"? In this case, the news media has failed terrible in their reporting of how many tax increases have occurred to replace the tax cuts. The news media have continually failed to report outdated taxes still on the books (i.e. a temporary federal excise tax on telephone bills initially passed to fund wars). If fully researched, I am confident that the results will show a net increase in taxes for the average American household with more increases on the way. If fully researched, I believe the results will prove that these tax increases are regressive and have the greatest impact on the middle-lower class American taxpayer. The buying power of middle-lower class America is evaporating. I will use transportation taxes as the perfect example to demonstrate how the new and increased taxes are not properly reported by the news media and how these taxes have a significant impact on lower-middle class American households. I challenge the news media to do a thorough investigative report on the total taxes the average American household pays on a monthly and annual basis. This report must include all the taxes on the taxpayer's phone bill, cell phone bill, cable TV bill, electric bill, transportation taxes (including toll road taxes), tourist taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, income taxes etc. etc. This report must provide the net impact of increased taxes on the overall buying power of the lower-middle class households and how they are lowering the overall standard of living for the typical American. Highway Robbery of the American Taxpayer - the Unreported Tax Scamby Sally Baptiste, December 13, 2004 American taxpayers are literally the victims of highway robbery. Highway robbery at the hands of our elected officials. Highway robbery as described here, is the unethical, fraudulent, abusive actions of elected officials to manipulate a critical/mandatory public service for the sole purpose of imposing excessive taxes for non-critical purposes. Today's elected officials routinely divert transportation taxes to any type of "pork barrel project" while reporting a lack of available funding for our Interstate highway system - a system that is critical to our economy. And then the elected officials simply create new policies to impose higher, uncontrolled transportation taxes on the motorist. In my opinion, these actions are unethical, fraudulent and abusive. Some may challenge my claim of "fraud". No - I am not an attorney, but fraud as I understand it is to intentionally enter into a transaction based on known false information. The elected officials claim that they do not have adequate funding for the Interstate system while failing to report (withholding information) the fact that they divert transportation tax dollars to non-transportation expenses and unnecessary pork projects. Thus, I believe this qualifies as fraud against the American taxpayer and amounts to highway robbery of the American taxpayer. This "highway robbery" (aka tax abuse) is never reported by the news media, yet it impacts every American taxpayer and consumer. It impacts our economy and our cost of living. It impacts our standard of living and the financial well-being of the American household, but CNN and other news media never take the time to report on it. The following information is provided as "evidence" of this highway robbery and the lack of proper reporting by CNN and other news media: 1) Interstate toll taxes. The news media has done an absolutely terrible job of reporting this subject. The news media has failed to report critical facts about the current U.S. Transportation bill that promotes and encourages toll taxes on our Interstate highway system. The news media has failed to report the real impact this tax increase will have for the typical American household. Why does the news media refuse to report this issue openly and honestly to the taxpayers and everyone that consumes goods and services? For example, the media has failed to thoroughly report the very real fact that when transportation costs increase, everyone's cost of living increases. This includes the cost of basic goods and services along with the increased cost of commuting to and from work. Transportation taxes are regressive and have the greatest impact on the lower-middle class taxpayers. This tax diverts money from the local economy and lowers the standard of living for middle-class and lower income citizens. The fact is, the cost of toll taxes per highway mile is substantially higher than gas taxes per highway mile. The addition of tolls to our Interstate highways is a substantial tax increase. Additionally, the real reason for Interstate toll taxes has absolutely nothing to do with funding roads or improving transportation. It has everything do with increasing the revenue stream (aka increased taxes) for the general fund. If the news media wants to report tax cuts, then they should be responsible enough to report tax increases. Please report all of the tax facts - not just the ones that are politically favorable. 2) The news media never reports on the real "user fees" for the roads and highways. The gas tax is the best and most efficient transportation "user fee" available. Toll road proponents claim that toll road taxes are a "user fee", but fail to mention that gas taxes are also a "user fee". The collection costs/expenses for gas taxes is significantly less than any toll tax collection system. "At the average toll rate of 15 cents per mile, a toll-tax is equivalent to a $3 increase in the gasoline tax per gallon." (quoted from http://www.cashtrap.us/why.htm). The fact that is never reported by the news media is that toll taxes are about easy, excessive tax dollars for politicians. Toll taxes have absolutely nothing to do with making the "users" pay for our highway infrastructure or raising money for transportation. Toll taxes have everything to do with the current status-quo that promotes using current gas taxes for non-highway/roadway expenses. There are no federal regulations that require federal gas taxes paid by motorists (aka the highway users) to be used for roads and highways. Toll taxes are abusive and they are the most expensive way to raise funds for highways. Why isn't the news media reporting the truth about toll taxes, gas taxes and "user fees"? 3) Failure of CNN and the news media to report the facts about the federal gas taxes. No one (including the news media) wants to address this highly "political" subject. Unfortunately, the typical American politician assumes that the American taxpayer is extremely ignorant, dumb or just plain stupid. They (the politicians) create new and excessive transportation taxes under the guise of a "user fee" and the news media goes right along with the political propaganda. The people need to know the facts about the tax revenues from current gas taxes compared to 20 years ago. This requires analyzing the fuel efficiencies of cars, trucks, vans and SUVs over the past 20 years. Overall today's automobiles are more fuel efficient than those 20 years ago. This results in less fuel consumption per highway mile (except for some trucks and SUVs). At the same time, construction costs have increased. The cost analysis must compare gas tax per highway mile that was paid 20 years ago compared to what is paid today. At that point, determine what the gas tax should be today to keep up with the rate of inflation. This must be done in conjunction with reforming the spending of gas tax revenues (as discussed in #2). Americans understand the facts about the cost of transportation and don't object to paying a fair price for necessary services. Americans also understand the meaning of reckless "pork barrel spending" and highway robbery. Let there be no doubt that toll road taxes result in bigger government and higher transportation taxes for everyone. The "user fee" concept is nothing more than political propaganda and results in easy money for more reckless spending, but once again the news media refuses to report these facts. 4) Failure of the news media to report the facts about State and local gas taxes. Many taxpayers do not realize that in addition to the federal gas taxes they pay, they may also be paying state and local gas taxes. For example; the State of Florida assesses gas taxes of 10 cents per gallon and Orange County, FL assesses gas taxes of 6 cents per gallon. This is on top of the federal gas tax. Unlike the disclosure of sales taxes paid when making purchases, there are no regulations requiring the reporting/disclosure of taxes paid at the pump. There is nothing on the receipt that details the total amount of gas taxes being paid at the time of purchase. This lack of reporting is intended to dismiss or downplay the total amount of gas taxes being paid and increases the chance for overcharging of gas taxes. Additionally, as with the federal regulations, Florida has no state regulations requiring that state or local gas taxes be used for highways and roadways. Thus, as can easily be proven, Florida annually diverts transportation tax dollars to non-transportation expenses and then builds more toll roads and increases toll taxes at will. The government has full control to tax the people at will. The people have no vote or control over this form of taxation. This is known as "taxation without representation". It would seem like the news media would consider "taxation without representation" a topic worthy of their time, but this un-American tax scam is never reported by CNN or other news media. Please explain why the news media does not believe "taxation without representation" in America is irrelevant. 5) What are the facts about transportation spending and how are they reported? What are our transportation tax dollars being used for? How much of our gas taxes are diverted away from transportation to the general fund? Once again, the news media has done a terrible job of reporting the facts. While the "money grubbers" in D.C. (and in many states) want to add toll taxes to our federal Interstate highway system, they have absolutely no problem wasted tax dollars on the "bridges to nowhere" in Alaska and spending excessive tax dollars studying light-rail and high-speed rail transit over and over again. The fact that rail transit systems nationwide have failed to substantially reduce traffic congestion does not seem to enter into the equation. At the same time, elected officials are willing to spend/waste millions and millions of dollars on studies trying to prove that tolls on our Interstates will somehow relieve traffic - thus, justifying the assessment of excessive toll taxes across the country. The fact is, these so-called public servants are not serving the public or promoting the general welfare of the people. They are not looking for ways to improve mobility. They are looking for new revenue streams that they can increase whenever they want to while reporting to the taxpayers that this is necessary funding and promote it as a "user fee". They will eagerly divert our transportation taxes to non-transportation expenses and then claim to have insufficient funds for our highways. This is highway robbery and fraud against the American taxpayer. Where is CNN and other news media throughout all of this reckless spending and political propaganda? Why don't you (the news media) do a true analysis of the cost of highways, mass transit and who is paying for it. Your lack of reporting on this subject is doing a major disservice to the American taxpayer and consumer. Please explain why CNN and the news media have failed to report these facts. 6) What about the states that impose toll taxes? I live in Orlando, FL, and I know how abusive and regressive toll taxes are, but the state and local news media appear to be too scared of the elected officials to report the facts. What is the deal with the news media? Whatever happened to "freedom of the press"? In the case of Florida, the state diverts hundreds of millions of transportation taxes to "general expenses" while they continually increase toll taxes at will. Toll roads are nothing more than a cash cow for the state and the people have absolutely no voice in this taxation (aka taxation without representation). Fact - there have been no new freeways built in Orange County, FL since 1957!! It should also be noted that in the beginning of toll abuse in Florida (1957), Florida's elected officials stated that the tolls would be "temporary". Now, 47 years later, toll abuse (highway robbery) is rampant in Florida. Basically, Florida's elected officials are addicted to toll taxes that they can increase whenever they want to. They (Florida's elected officials) refuse to analyze the true impact of toll taxes on traffic congestion and air pollution. They refuse to analyze the true impact of toll taxes on the local economy, cost of living and quality of life. Many local residents cannot afford to pay $100+ per month in toll taxes. Thus, the traffic congestion and all the pollution that goes with it, is getting worse on the secondary roads. In my opinion, Florida toll taxes are in essence the hidden state income tax. Additionally the state of Florida has recently created policies to enter into "partnerships" with corporations for toll roads. Basically, the State of Florida has sold our highway system to the private sector without the consent of the people. This abuse must be stopped. Once again I must ask - where is the news media? How can this governmental abuse not be worthy of reporting? Have elected officials directly or indirectly controlled the reporting of this abuse by the news media? 7) The news media frequently reports on the price of gas, but not the increasing price of toll taxes. The cost of toll taxes can easily be greater than the total cost of the gas with the gas tax for the same trip. In Central Florida, some motorist pay $8 per day in toll taxes to drive to and from work. That amounts to an average of $160 per month and $1920 additional taxes annually. As stated earlier, in my opinion, this is Florida's hidden state income tax. How does the cost of the toll taxes compare to the cost of gas? How much will the new Interstate toll taxes cost the average American household in increased transportation expenses and increased cost of goods and services? How will this impact the buying power of the lower-middle class household? Will this tax increase offset any savings realized from lower interest rates and federal tax cuts? Will the overall household tax bill increase or decrease as a result of the toll taxes? Why hasn't the news media reported on how the tolls taxes will increase annual household taxes and the cost of living for every American? 8) Citizens across the country are creating grassroots groups to fight toll abuse, but for the most part, the news media has ignored this outcry of the American taxpayer. Citizens of Texas are working together to fight a plan to build a 4,000 mile toll road system and a transportation bill that allows the state of Texas to convert current freeways to toll roads. WHERE IS THE NEWS MEDIA??? Citizens Against Tolls is a New Jersey group fighting toll abuse. Other groups such as the American Trucking Association and AAA are also opposed to tolling roads. WHERE IS THE NEWS MEDIA??? Some reports indicate that 70% of Americans oppose toll roads, yet the news media only does minimal reporting on the growing traffic congestion and absolutely no reporting on toll abuse. I have only seen one very brief report on CNN about "pay as you go". This CNN report was bogus at best. CNN completely failed to report any facts about toll taxes and highway funding. As mentioned earlier, toll taxes have absolutely nothing to do with "user fees" or funding for the federal Interstate system or funding for state/local highways. CNN should be embarrassed and ashamed of this reporting. 9) The news media refuses to report the facts about how critical the Interstate highway system has become to our economy. As George Mason University, Professor Jonathan Gifford stated, "Like it or not, America is a car culture, and the Interstate plays an integral part in that. Moreover, the Interstate is a critical element of the distribution system for goods in the economy. " The American economy is dependent on the Interstate highway system. Any attempt to exploit the highway system in order to increase tax revenues is outrageous. The failure for the news media to report this tax abuse is even more outrageous. Toll roads mean bigger government, higher taxes and more regressive taxes. No ethical "conservative" or 'liberal" can support this type of abusive, unregulated taxation. Interstate toll taxes are an uncontrolled tax revenue stream that will have a negative impact on our economy, increase the cost of living and assess higher taxes to those who can least afford it. Only wealthy, overpaid politicians can be this reckless with the welfare of the American people. Only a controlled/censored news media can disregard/ignore these very real facts. Please explain why CNN and the news media disregards/ignores these facts. 10) Tolls on our highways is a tax scam that has been never reported by the news media. The following statement was copied from the National Taxpayers Union web-site. http://www.ntu.org/main/press_issuebriefs.php?PressID=273&org_name=NTUF "Congress passed the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990 (OBRA-90), which diverted 2.5 cents of a 5-cent- per-gallon increase from the Highway Trust Fund to the general fund of the Treasury. In 1993, Congress again diverted gasoline tax revenues to the general fund. This practice ended with the passage of the 1997 reconciliation bill. However, the diversions, according to the Congressional Budget Office, have "weakened the 'user-pays' principle on which the Highway Trust Fund was established." "Authorizing states to charge tolls is an explicit acknowledgement that double taxation is acceptable, no matter the cost to taxpayers and to state economies". This proves beyond any reasonable doubt that the gas taxes have been diverted to non-transportation expenses and toll taxes are a double/triple taxation against the motorist. Thus, it is a fraud against the American taxpayer to assess toll taxes while reporting that the current gas tax revenues are insufficient to fund our federal Interstate highway system. Toll taxes are nothing more than highway robbery of the American taxpayer, yet the news media refuses to report it. Please explain why CNN fails to report these facts. A final message and request to CNN and the news media. It isn't rocket science to understand why greedy, self-serving politicians plays games with our money. They (the elected official/politician) just want more money to waste and they are willing to misrepresent any and/or all facts to the people just so that they can get reelected. Let's be honest, the sad fact is that fewer and fewer of today's politicians believe in "public service" or have any code of ethics. But what about the news media?? Whatever happened to the first amendment and freedom of the press? Instead of being a watch dog for the people, the news media appears to be an extension of an out-of control government. It appears that the news media only reports what governmental officials tell them to report and nothing more. This is not freedom of the press. It is censorship. It is very apparent to me that the news media has failed the people. It is the job and the responsibility of the news media to report all the facts to the people. You are the watchdog over governmental abuse. But instead of reporting on governmental abuse, the news media will spend hours and hours and hours reporting on the misconduct of professional athletes. I cannot understand this logic. Please explain to me why it is more important to report on the unprofessional behavior of a professional athlete than the cost of transportation that will financially impact every American household - especially lower-middle income households. Please explain to me why the news media has failed to report the fact that Interstate toll taxes are an abusive and unnecessary tax that will increase the cost of living for every American while increasing air pollution and traffic congestion. Please explain why the news media refuses to report the facts about transportation taxes that are paid today, are diverted to non-transportation expenses and miscellaneous pork projects. Please explain why the news media has failed to report transportation facts such as Americans have already paid in gas taxes for the Interstate highway system and the real problem for transportation is the reckless and irresponsible spending of our elected officials. It is easy to see that Americans are the victims of too much pork and too little representation in DC, but Americans have also become the victims of a less than zealous news media that has failed to report this governmental abuse. The failure of the news media to properly report all the facts about transportation is only one example of how the news media has failed the people. If the people cannot trust the news media to fully report this type of governmental abuse, than who can we trust? And what is the meaning of freedom of the press? Who really controls the press? Has freedom of the press been eradicated right in front of the American people? Who gets served when the news media fails to report critical information that impacts every American? If CNN and the news media wants the trust and respect of the people, than CNN and the news media needs to reevaluate it's reporting ethics and standards. The failure to report this type of governmental abuse to the people is to do a serious disservice to the people and to lose the trust of the people. Please reconsider your decision about reporting how the addition of toll taxes to our Interstate highway system will impact our economy and our cost of living. Hopefully you will realize that this tax is abusive and should be reported to the American people. Interstate toll taxes are highway robbery of the American taxpayer. The people have the right to know the facts about this abusive, uncontrolled tax and the news media has a responsibility to report these facts to them. Here are some links to grassroots groups fighting the unethical and double/triple taxation of the American motorists. http://www.tollcats.com/index..html http://www.corridorwatch.org/ttc/index.htm http://www.stopdoubletax.com/ http://www.austintollparty.com/ http://www.cashtrap.us/ http://www.sh249tollroad.com/ http://www.stop121tolls.com/ http://www.firericwilliamson.com/default.htm http://www.users.nac.net/jmp/tollfree/ http://capwiz.com/ata/mail/oneclick_compose/?alertid=6388196 http://www.landlinemag.com/Archives/1998/dec98_jan99/anti_toll.html

Please drive safely, be safe and help stop toll abuse in America - help save the American Freeway. Sincerely,Sally BaptisteA Citizen for Ethics and Accountability in GovernmentA Citizen for Reform in Education, Transportation and Campaign Finance3936 S Semoran Blvd, PMB #351, Orlando, FL 32822407-761-9016

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