Massachusetts Needs an Economist

At the same time as Governor Deval Patrick is taking his idea for a gas tax hike on the road to garner support, he has also announced he wants to tack on an extra parking fee at Logan. Logan just increased parking by $1.00. Governor Patrick would like to raise that by $2.00 and is calling those extra $2- a "carbon fee". According to yesterday's Globe article by Noah Bierman, if Governor Patrick gets what he wants, then one half hour of parking at the airport would cost $6.00. In addition, getting to Logan may involve another increased amount in driving through the tunnel, which may be raised to $7.00, depending on whether the amount of the new gas tax is high enough or not. Let's say for instance, (as Mr. Bierman humorously points out in his article) that you're picking up a friend at the airport and her plane is later than expected, causing you to have to wait for her for three hours. You'll be paying $18.00. If you're taking a trip and plan on leaving your car all day at Logan? Have $26.00 ready to shell out.

I'm not an economist, but it seems to me that raising the gas tax, raising airport parking fees, raising tolls on the MassPike and in the airport tunnel, and taxing candy and beer are not the kinds of things that will move Massachusetts out of a recession.

The Boston Globe, Monday, March 2, 2009, "Logan parking costs may soar" by Noah Bierman, p.B1
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/02/logan_parking_costs_may_soar/

The Boston Globe, Monday, March 2, 2009, "Patrick pays house call to talk up gas tax" by John C. Drake, p.B2
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/03/02/patrick_pays_house_call_to_talk_up_gas_tax/