Although some infrastructure advocates are hoping to use the current budget negotiations to win support for an increase in the federal gasoline tax, the idea is unlikely to gain support in Congress or the Administration. While the 2010 Simpson-Bowles deficit-reduction commission proposed raising the federal gas tax by 15 cents/gallon as part of a broad deficit-reduction plan, neither House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) nor Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) have endorsed the idea. Nor is an increase in the federal gasoline tax popular among the rank-and-file. Most lawmakers see the pressure to raise it as coming only from a narow coalition of liberal advocacy groups and transportation stakeholders that stand to benefit from increased federal transportation spending.
Nor is the Obama administration eager to advocate a gas tax increase whose burden would fall most severely on the middle class ---precisely the constituency it wishes to protect from the pain of any further tax increases. Given this perception, it is almost certain that a federal gas tax increase will remain off the table in the current fiscal cliff negotiations and probably throughout the next session of Congress as well.
Look instead for the states to assume a larger share of responsibility for funding their transportation needs. An early harbinger may be the state of Arkansas whose voters recently approved a half-cent statewide sales tax increase to back a $1.3 billion bond issue to fund highway construction over the next ten years. The measure has been called "the largest infusion of new tax dollars into a state transportation system in recent history." Local referenda supporting public transportation also have appeared on the ballot in numerous states. According to the Center for Transportation Excellence, last November voters approved 70 percent of such initiatives.
In addition to greater local financial participation, look for a shift in emphasis from federal funding to public and private financing of large infrastructure projects. The shift will be fueled by a vastly expanded TIFIA lending authority ---by more than 600 percent, from $122 million in FY 2012 to $750 million in FY 2013---and by a large reservoir of equity in pension funds and private infrastructure investment funds looking for attractive investment opportunities. (TIFIA stands for the Transportation Infrastructure Financing and Innovation Act).
This means an expanded role for tolling, for TIFIA and private sources of capital can only be used to finance facilities that are backed by a dedicated stream of revenue to cover interest payments on the loan and the loan repayment itself. Tolls are viewed by many as a fairer way to pay for new and reconstructed highways and bridges because, unlike the gas tax, they are paid only by the users of the particular tolled facility. In other words, drivers in Montana will not be required to pay for a road or bridge built for and benefiting mainly the residents of say, Texas.
The likely prospect that financing will replace stagnant or dwindling federal funding, dominated discussion among financial practitioners at ARTBA's Public-Private Partnership Conference in Washington on October 10-11. Participants were encouraged to hear that 19 projects worth $27.5 billion have already submitted letters of interest for TIFIA loans in the past three months. Four more projects totaling $1.9 billion have been announced since October. More applications are certain to follow as it becomes clear that the Highway Trust Fund no longer can continue to serve as a source of investment capital for transportation infrastructure.
In sum, rather than hoping for an increase in the gas tax, the transportation community should look forward to three new trends as the most likely response to the perceived inadequacy of current transportation revenue: greater financial participation by state and local taxpayers, a shift in emphasis from federal funding to private and public financing, and an expanded use of tolling.
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the longtime Oakland general who left the Athletics to take an executive vice president position in the commissioner’s office. Chief among Alderson’s duties was asserting the commissioner’s control over the umpires in a way no commissioner had previously attempted
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the rank-and-file. Most lawmakers see the pressure to raise it as coming only from a narow coalition of liberal advocacy groups and transportation stakeholders that stand to benefit from increased federal transportation spending.
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24 hour alcohol
Buying alcohol at night in London has always seemed a daunting task, where to go – the black market off license located on that dimly lit street or head to that vastly overpriced night club that everyone is raving purely because it is open until the early hours of the morning!
Well thank fully, help is at hand – at last alcohol delivered on demand – lets keep that party alive!
Licensing laws were amended during 2005 and alcohol delivery companies like DrinksXpress have been offering alcohol delivery your very front door in areas such as London.
Late night alcohol delivery london is becoming as popular as pizza delivery these days with alcohol companies popping up all over London especially in recent years. There is a large choice of strong proof drinks available, with some companies offering large menus of different spirited drinks and others offer main stream brands such as Smirnoff vodka, Gordon's Gin & Jack Daniels.
Beers or rather lagers, as you would expect, include Fosters, Kronenbourg & Stella Artois. Most companies advertise that the beers are delivered ice cold and are offered for sale in 4 packs, 8, 12 and 24 packs.
Wine delivery is equally catered for with all companies offering 24 hour alcohol via a variety of reds, whites and rose wines. Others also offer Prosecco as a sparkling wine alternative and virtually all drinks delivery companies offer some sort of champagne delivery service. DrinksXpress offered a wide variety with 6 different champagnes including rose champagne.
Late night food delivery in recent years has boomed, with new delivery companies opening and existing food delivery companies expanding their opening hours by obtaining late night refreshment licenses in addition to their hot food licenses – undoubtedly 24 hour pizza delivery will end up being a front runner in the late night food delivery league; if there ever becomes one of course! It seems that alcohol delivery companies have gone one step further by combining 24 hour alcohol delivery with 24 hour pizza and late night food delivery.
It seems that most alcohol delivery companies have latched on to the convenience market very firmly, the concept appears to work. A quick inspection of delivery middlemen sites such as Hungryhouse and JustEat further confirms this. Most alcohol delivery companies seem to have a second string to their bow; cigarette delivery - London is a huge city with a vast population and this makes the smaller profits margins more viable.
For more information contact:
DrinksXpress – Alcohol Delivery
67-68 Hatton Garden
London
EC1N 8JY
http://www.drinksxpress.co.uk
0203 514 7570
Google+ http://plus.google.com/108290234654984202563
Twitter http://www.twitter.com.drinksxpressuk
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/drinks.xpress.uk
24 hour alcohol
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