Spike O’Neill: ‘I never met a tax I didn’t love,’ but Washington gas tax hike is ‘too much’
Apr 1, 2025, 5:01 AM
A gas pump is seen situated into a vehicle at a Shell gas station. (Photo: Brandon Bell via Getty Images)
(Photo: Brandon Bell via Getty Images)
The Washington State Senate voted to increase taxes on gas prices by six cents. “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio said gas taxes are just “too much” for Washingtonians to pay. Even the self-professed tax-loving Spike O’Neill said this is going too far.
“We’re paying, on average, a dollar more than any other state for gasoline,” co-host O’Neill said. “And yes, it does feel like too much at this point, even for me. I never met a tax I didn’t love.”
Under the legislation, the gas taxes would increase annually by two percent. But it also raises impact fees for electric and hybrid vehicles, and bumps up registration renewal fees from $100 to $150.
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Spike believes that these funds could be used more efficiently.
“It feels terrible to be taxed for something that’s supposed to be helping the environment, that’s just dumped in the general fund,” added Spike. “Don’t back-sell the general, use the money for the environment to help fix the roads, and then cover the transportation shortfalls.”
A separate bill that could raise the gas tax by nine cents is expected to head to the Washington State House floor sometime next week.
Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.
