Politics & Government

Are you OK with Higher Gas and Cigarette Taxes?

The new taxes are slated to help rebuild the state's transportation infrastructure. Will it work?

Drivers and smokers are gonna have a bad day Wednesday. 

The state's about to raise taxes on two commonly purchased items: gasoline and cigarettes. Starting Wednesday, the gas tax will increase three cents a gallon. The cigarette tax, meanwhile, will go up a full dollar a pack. That's an extra $20 if you buy full cartons.

But before you bust out rubber tubes to syphon your neighbor's gas tank or plan your raid on Logan's duty-free shops, remember that these increases will go to improve the state's transportation system, which—outside of the Big Dig—has been crumbling for years. Repairs and new construction cost money, which is why these taxes are increasing. 

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But is this the right way to raise the money? Will raising these taxes provide the money needed for the needed road and rail work? Or will these taxes over time reduce the amount people drive and smoke, leading to less money than projected? Is this how we rebuild our infrastructure to encourage economic growth? Or are these taxes a drag on the economy just as we're seeing signs of progress? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below.


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