The Frugal Hoosiers blog calls out The Gary Post Tribune for being for a suspension of the state sales tax on gasoline (because that money just goes into the general fund) but against suspending the federal tax on gasoline (because that money is dedicated to highway maintenance):
This is a six and one half dozen argument. The General Assembly has been reluctant to structure our budget in a way that dedicates funds because it becomes a shell game. It allows government to increase fees or taxes that supply dedicated funds, reduce general fund appropriations, and artificially inflate the bottom line by increasing spending.
Both suspensions are gimmicks. Both would save Hoosiers money, but not much. Both would require government to replace or do without large amounts of money. One is proposed by a Democrat, one by a Republican. Perhaps the Post Tribune has a blind spot.
