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The national debt’s 20-year deadline and baby boomers’ spending problem

In a new analysis and in an interview with Fortune, the Penn Wharton Budget Model (PWBM) faculty director sketches an outer limit for U.S. federal debt and a political economy that heavily favors older Americans. His bluntest line may also be his simplest: “We do spend about 10x more per older person than we do per younger person. In total, we spend about 6x in aggregate on older people than younger people.”
This means means the average older person gets much more than the average younger person as a policy choice, but since there is a greater number of younger people, when you add up all dollars going to each group, the total to older people is “only” about six times. PWBM estimated in April retirees (adults age 65 and older) receive $2.7 trillion, equal to 38.6% of total federal outlays and 61.9% of age-assignable spending, while working-age adults (ages 26-64) receive $1.2 trillion (27.9% of age-assignable), and children and young adults (under age 26) receive $449 billion (10.3%).
Smetters added he works a lot on understanding the political economy of the U.S. and there’s just “a lot of incentive for every generation to try to pass a big bill to the next generation. The question is, how long can they get away with that?”
A 210% ceiling—and a 20‑year runway
Smetters and his team estimate U.S. federal debt cannot rationally exceed about 210% of GDP. Above that level, he argues, there is no feasible broad‑based tax on labor income that can cover the interest bill at the returns investors will demand. That figure is an “outer bound,” not a forecast: In his words, it is “really the upper limit,” not a target that markets will calmly finance.
The more immediate concern is timing. Under what PWBM labels “historical” excess health care cost growth—the pace at which health spending per person has tended to outrun the broader economy—the U.S. is likely to hit that outer bound within about 20 years, with a one‑in‑four chance of hitting it in just 14. In the model’s median scenario, the “closure year”—the last point at which policymakers can still restore sustainability with a feasible tax—is as early as 2045 if health care costs grow quickly, and 2051 under more optimistic assumptions.
“The assumption is that the financial markets are being set in a way where they keep believing that Congress will eventually get its act together up until the point where it’s mathematically impossible for that to be true anymore,” Smetters said. “Sometimes people ask me, ‘You know, when could financial markets unravel?’ And the answer is, well, that could happen today, it could happen tomorrow, it could happen whenever they stop believing that Congress will eventually get its act together.”
When baby boomers meet the debt ceiling
Those dates line up uncomfortably well with the gradual fading of the baby boomer generation from positions of economic and political power. Asked whether it is a coincidence his 20‑year horizon roughly overlaps with the last years of baby boomer dominance in Congress and the C‑suite, Smetters was cautious but open to the framing.
He connected the budget choices to a broader psychology of ownership. In the Social Security and retirement space, he says, Americans routinely treat government‑funded benefits as if they were purely private property—even when taxpayers have put up most of the cash.
“We always stretch out what ownership is,” he told Fortune. “We like to think: ‘Yeah, If the government put in 90% and I put in 10%, I still want access to the entire account because I need to replace my roof and I have a good reason [for needing the funds].”
That mindset shapes the debate over Social Security, he added, where the main trust fund that pays retired workers’ benefits is projected to run dry in the early 2030s. Smetters noted his team was earlier than official forecasters in calling the “crossover date” when benefits would exceed revenues, and their depletion date—around 2032 for the main old‑age fund—has since been confirmed by the Social Security Trustees and the Congressional Budget Office.
Once the trust fund is exhausted, he estimated, the program can pay only about 83% of scheduled benefits, and that fraction erodes further over time. But he doubts that deadline will force timely action.
“The last time we fixed Social Security in 1983, we waited very close for bad things to happen,” he said. “Based on past experience, we’ve waited pretty long … to take action.”
Why easy fixes fall short
In the current political debate, that looming Social Security shortfall has collided with a parade of more exotic ideas, from Trump Accounts for newborns to proposals for some kind of “AI dividend” that would redirect tech profits back to the public.
Smetters was skeptical.
“People are excited about AI and think it’s going to lead to all this economic growth. People are just misunderstanding it,” he said. “Even if it does lead to more growth than we’re projecting, spending is going to go up with it. It’s not true that AI will simply increase the tax base without increasing spending.” His biggest concern, he added, is how many of us are “really misguided in our understanding of future progress, future growth.”
Behind the scenes, Smetters has pushed a less flashy but more radical idea: Shut down the costly tax deduction for 401(k) and 403(b) contributions, which he estimates cost roughly $1.3 trillion to $1.4 trillion in forgone revenue over 10 years in earlier work, and reroute that money into non‑contributory retirement accounts for low‑income workers linked to the earned income tax credit. Crucially, he said, people would not be allowed to deposit their own money in those accounts at all, precisely to avoid the political pressure for early withdrawals that has undermined past efforts to nudge workers into saving more.
The psychology that Smetters describes isn’t new; the great comedian George Carlin captured it decades ago with the line Jon Stewart calls one of his most profound: “My shit is stuff; your stuff is shit.” It also recalls the paradoxical protest sign from a Republican voter about a federal benefit: “Keep your government hands off my Medicare!”
Smetters’ version is if the government funds 90% of your retirement account and you put in 10%, you still feel entitled to “the entire account” because, as he put it, “that’s all mine. It’s not yours.”
A Liz Truss warning for Washington
If the numbers and the politics sound abstract, Smetters insisted the consequences are not. When countries bump up against their fiscal limits, he said, the damage goes far beyond the bond market.
“You get this radical reordering when a country is overwhelmed with debt,” he said, pointing to episodes ranging from Germany’s collapse in the early 1930s to modern crises in Argentina. Fiscal crack‑ups, he argues, make voters more willing to gamble on strongmen or untested extremes on the left or right.
He said he keeps returning to Britain’s short‑lived Liz Truss government as a cautionary tale, referring to the prime minister whose unserious financial plan saw her ejected from office in less time than it took a head of lettuce to wilt, as the British press savagely noted.
“I think we’re actually going to see financial markets try to discipline us long before we hit that limit,” he said of the U.S. debt path. “We could easily have our Liz Truss moment in the United States within the next five, 10 years.”
The technical PWBM paper that underpins his concerns emphasizes the same point in more formal language, using a classic framework from economists Harold Cole and Timothy Kehoe: Even well before a country reaches its mathematical solvency limit, there is a “crisis zone” at intermediate debt levels where a shift in investor expectations alone can trigger a self‑fulfilling run. In that zone, markets don’t wait for the last dollar of capacity to be used up before demanding higher interest rates—or refusing to refinance government debt at all.
“What people don’t get is that when you have these financial collapses, it’s not just finance,” Smetters said. The problem the U.K. faces now, he said, is that they already have very high taxes so their “fiscal space” is quite limited in terms of what they can do now.
“That’s the problem with the baby boomer generation,” he added. “It’s going to be really hard to change benefits over time.” Sometimes when you have giant fiscal problems that keep going unsolved, year after year, “they can lead to really incredible changes in society that can be very disruptive, beyond just economics.”

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F.A.A. Investigates Near Miss Between Planes at Boston’s Logan Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration said that it was investigating a near miss between two planes at Boston Logan International Airport that happened on Saturday morning.
The episode happened at about 11:30 a.m., when Delta Air Lines Flight 2351 performed a go-around to avoid another plane that was taking off from an intersecting runway, the F.A.A. said in statement. The agency did not identify the other plane involved.
A go-around is a standard maneuver in which a plane aborts a landing, repositions and tries again. The F.A.A. said information around the episode was preliminary.
Data from Flightradar24, a flight-tracking website, showed that the Delta flight, arriving from Dallas, aborted its approach for landing as American Airlines Flight 3161, bound for Charlotte, N.C., approached from an intersecting runway.
The two planes were a few hundred feet apart, the tracking data showed. The Delta plane landed around 10 minutes later, according to the tracking data.
Delta said the flight crew received an advisory from an onboard system warning of potential traffic while the plane was descending and coordinated with air traffic control to perform the go-around. The plane landed safely and the passengers deplaned normally, according to a spokesperson for the airline.
The plane, an Airbus A319, was carrying 129 passengers and six crew members, the spokesperson said.
American Airlines did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
This was the latest in a string of near misses at U.S. airports in recent months. In April, an American Airlines regional jet flew dangerously close to an Air Canada regional jet after aborting its landing at Kennedy International Airport, according to the F.A.A.
The same month, the agency also investigated a close call between two Southwest Airlines jets at Nashville International Airport, in which an air traffic controller inadvertently directed an incoming plane into the path of a departing aircraft. The planes came within about 500 vertical feet of each other as the pilots reacted to onboard collision alerts, according to Flightradar24 and the F.A.A.

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SOS: Could Doug Parker Really Return To “Save” American Airlines?

There’s a rumor swirling around that American Airlines may bring back former CEO Doug Parker to replace current CEO Robert Isom. When I first heard this, I thought “wait, there’s no way the board would do something like this, right?” However, the more I think about it, the more I think “wait, that’s exactly what American’s board would do, of course.” Let me explain…
Airline executives speculate Doug Parker may replace Robert Isom
In recent years, American has been falling further and further behind both Delta and United when it comes to financial performance. In reality, Delta is still strongest, while United has been pulling ahead at American’s expense, as it seems to be a zero sum game between the two airlines.
Simply put, the company has lacked a cohesive vision for so long. Premium… not premium… now premium again… who is to say?! It has now gotten to the point where management realizes they need to invest in customer experience, but one wonders if it’s too little too late, especially with the pace at which Delta and United are also investing in their products. It’s not easy to make up ground in these circumstances.
I’m not alone in wondering who will fix American, and when they’ll replace CEO Robert Isom. If American had a competent board, we would’ve seen a management change a long time ago. While I’m sure the board doesn’t want to admit that it has been asleep at the wheel, sooner or later, something’s gotta give.
The issue is that several board members are doubling down and don’t want to admit defeat, since they’re the same people who were behind the decision to choose Isom over Scott Kirby to lead American next (Kirby was president of American, and was then told he’d never be CEO, which is why he left to go to United, and there’s a lot of bad blood there).
So that brings us to the latest rumor that’s swirling around. Brian Sumers, who writes the Airline Observer (a paid subscription for full access) recently attended the IATA AGM in Rio de Janeiro, which is the one event each year attended by virtually every airline industry executive. While a lot of important stuff happens in official meetings, what’s equally interesting is what’s discussed off the record, and at the bars late at night. Airline executives love to gossip (who doesn’t?!).
Sumers explains that one of the most common topics of conversation among executives was whether Isom will make it through the end of 2026, and who will eventually replace him. I’ve shared my take in the past on who I think would be a good fit to replace Isom, but it seems industry executives have a different theory. The leading candidate to replace Isom, according to other executives? Well, it could be former American CEO Doug Parker (who was previously CEO of US Airways, and CEO of America West before that — he’s one of the industry’s longest serving airline CEOs).
The idea is that Parker has the industry experience and respect needed to turn the airline around… or something. Keep in mind Parker is still somewhat in the industry, as he’s on the board of Qantas. And he’s “only” 64, five years younger than Delta CEO Ed Bastian.
Parker would do nothing to fix American’s underlying problems
As a person, I respect Parker quite a bit. He seems like a kind, fair guy, he’s surprisingly pro union, and he has certainly done a lot for the airline industry over the years, being a leading voice during tough times (including going to Washington asking for bailouts).
However, if you ask me, Parker and Isom are almost identical in that regard — they’re both nice guys, but they lack a vision. Even as American started its slow descent under Parker, he had the same “oh, everything is fine” narrative that Isom now has. I actually suspect this might’ve been one of the reasons that Kirby was passed over in favor of Isom — Kirby is absolutely cutthroat, highly competitive, and wants to win, while neither Parker nor Isom have that mentality.
Replacing Isom with Parker would do absolutely nothing to fix American. The single biggest thing that American needs is a CEO who can excite employees, and who can get them to rally behind a vision. Period. End of story. Without that, there is no turnaround, because employees are just confused and indifferent, given the lack of direction they’ve been given.
Personally, I also think it needs to be an outsider, so that the board shows employees that they’re serious about change. Simply rearranging the America West deck chairs doesn’t send a message of actual change to employees. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again — someone like Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith would be the person to turn the airline around.
Now, do I think the odds of that happening are actually good? No, probably not. That would be way too out-of-the-box for American’s board. And American is an airline that probably more than any other promotes from within. That’s great in theory, but it’s also why there’s such groupthink, and how we’ve gotten to this point.
American actually has some decent executives now — recently appointed Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper is a bright guy, and I think he has the right idea with strategy, and he’s also sort of an outsider. That being said, my impression is that he might be more of a Glen Hauenstein type than a Bastian type (Hauenstein was Delta’s former president, and he was really the guy behind most of the strategy, even though you almost never heard from him).
Meanwhile Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden has been the person behind many of the positive changes in recent times, but again, she’s from the America West “club,” and I’m not sure a 20+ year veteran of the company is really the person employees are going to rally around, because they’ve been let down too often. For that matter, I don’t know enough about her to wager a guess as to whether she can actually be innovative — virtually all the positive changes we’ve seen from American in recent times have just been obvious areas where the company is catching up with the competition.
One thing is for sure — the board can only ignore reality for so much longer. Or I dunno, maybe they can, because little about our corporate world makes sense.
Bottom line
American CEO Robert Isom just hasn’t been doing a great job leading the airline in the right direction, at least when you look at the company’s financial performance compared to that of competitors. While the idea seems sort of wild to me, many other industry executives reportedly think that the most likely successor to Isom is a return of Parker.
Replacing a nice guy who lacks strategy with a nice guy who lacks strategy just doesn’t strike me as a wise decision. Then again, American’s board is the whole reason we’re in this situation to begin with, given that they opted for Isom over former president Kirby to take over at American.
I’d like to think that there’s no way this could happen, but who really knows…

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Business

Americans Have Turned Against AI in Incredible Numbers

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Not that anyone in power is going to care, but there’s even more evidence that Americans are coming to overwhelmingly loathe AI — despite, or perhaps because, they’re using chatbots more than ever.
In a sweeping new poll conducted by Pew Research, only 16 percent of respondents said they believed AI will have a positive impact on society — a number as dismal as the perception of the tech.
Meanwhile, 49 percent of adults say they use AI chatbots like ChatGPT, which remains the most popular by a considerable margin, with a quarter saying they use the tools daily. That proportion is considerably higher than the 33 percent of American adults who said they used AI chatbots in 2024.
In other words, the tech’s widespread adoption isn’t helping its perception. A full 40 percent of respondents said they anticipate AI will have a negative impact on society, and 31 percent said it will impact them personally in a negative way, too.
This varies quite a bit by age. Gen Z adults, ages 18 to 29, were the most wary of AI, with 48 percent believing it’ll be negative for society. Yet they’re also the group that reported using AI the most, at 66 percent.
Interestingly, the 30-49 year olds and the 50-and-up brackets are more closely aligned, at 39 percent and 37 percent respectively viewing it as negative. They‘re using AI less, though the dropoff between their usage is significant: 61 percent of 30-49 year olds said they used AI chatbots, while only 42 percent of 50-64 year olds did. It was less than a quarter for 65 years and older.
What’s driving this gap between perception and usage is unclear. You could argue that some feel compelled to use it, even when recognizing the tech’s shortcomings and the ethical dubiousness of the industry that’s building it. In fact, many are literally forced to use it at work, with bosses often more enthusiastic about the tech than workers are.
In any case, it’s a real problem for AI’s long-term staying power. Right now the industry is being propelled by hype and the mountains of cash that’re being pumped into it, while profits remain elusive. If no one likes AI years or decades from now, will there be enough customers to keep the industry running?

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Business

Minnesota bans crypto ATMs after scam surge

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Minnesota is banning crypto ATMs after scammers reportedly used the machines to drain nearly $1 million from residents over the past few years. The machines, also called cryptocurrency kiosks, let people turn cash into digital currency quickly. That speed has made them a favorite tool for criminals who pressure victims during fake emergencies, legal threats and romance scams.
The ban takes effect Aug. 1, 2026. Operators must remove publicly accessible machines by the end of the year. State officials say scammers have used these kiosks to turn panic into payments. A victim gets a frightening call, heads to a machine and sends cash before anyone has time to step in. That quick window is exactly what criminals count on and what Minnesota wants to stop.
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TEXT JOB SCAM COST HIM $10K IN CRYPTO
Minnesota crypto ATM ban targets fast-moving scams
Between 2023 and 2025, Minnesota logged 134 complaints involving crypto kiosk scams. Reported losses came close to $1 million. In 2025 alone, the state reportedly saw 70 cases and more than $540,000 in losses. Those numbers likely tell only part of the story. Many victims never report what happened. Some feel embarrassed. Others worry their family will judge them. Scammers know that silence helps them move on to the next target.
Minnesota had already tried adding safeguards to these machines. The state required warnings, limits and consumer protections. Yet law enforcement officials said scammers adjusted. They stayed on the phone with victims, coached them through the screens and told them what to say if anyone asked questions. Now, Minnesota is taking a much stronger step by removing the machines from public use.
Why crypto ATM scams are so hard to undo
Crypto kiosks create a dangerous mix for scam victims. They accept cash, move money quickly and usually leave very little room for recovery once the transaction goes through. With a bank transfer or credit card payment, there may be some chance to pause, dispute or trace the money. Crypto works differently. Once the digital currency leaves the wallet, the transfer can move across borders or through multiple wallets before anyone knows what happened.
That leaves victims in a brutal position. They may realize the call was fake only minutes after sending the money. By then, the cash has already been converted to crypto, and the scammer has likely moved it again. That is why scammers love these machines. They do not need to hack your bank account. They only need to scare you enough to follow their instructions.
HOW FLORIDA RETIREE LOST $200K IN FAKE PAYPAL REFUND SCAM
How crypto ATM scams trap victims
Most crypto ATM scams begin with pressure. The caller may claim you missed jury duty and face arrest. Another scammer may pretend your grandchild caused an accident and needs bail money. Someone posing as a bank employee may say your account is under attack and your money needs to be “protected.” The story changes, but the pressure feels the same. The scammer wants you scared, rushed and alone.
Then comes the payment demand. You may be told to withdraw cash and drive to a nearby crypto kiosk. The scammer may text you a QR code or wallet address. They may stay on the phone the entire time and tell you to ignore warnings on the screen. That last part is key. Many victims do see alerts. They still move forward because the scammer has created fear and urgency. In that moment, the warning on the machine has to compete with someone shouting that a loved one is in trouble or that police are on the way.
Real crypto scam cases show how fast money can disappear
We have seen this pattern before. The scam starts with a believable story, then the pressure builds until the victim feels there is no time to think.
Gail Barr lost $9,260 after scammers convinced her she had missed jury duty. They sent her to a Bitcoin ATM inside a convenience store and kept her on the phone while she followed their instructions. Thankfully, a bank manager later helped stop the scam from getting worse.
Then there was the 85-year-old man who lost $200,000 after a fake PayPal refund scheme pulled him into a much bigger trap. What began as a $10,000 crypto ATM transfer eventually turned into gold coins handed to a courier.
And in another scam, Joe Allen, a disabled man from Connecticut, shared how he lost more than $300,000 in a cryptocurrency investment scam. His story shows how criminals keep working someone once they sense fear, trust or isolation.
That is what makes these scams so dangerous. Most victims do not start out thinking they are sending money to a criminal. They believe they are solving a crisis, protecting their account or helping someone they care about. By the time the truth sinks in, the money may already be gone.
Crypto ATM scam losses are rising nationwide
Minnesota is hardly alone. The FBI says its Internet Crime Complaint Center received more than 13,400 complaints in 2025 involving cryptocurrency kiosks. Reported losses topped $388 million. More than half of those complaints involved people over 50, with losses above $302 million.
That age pattern should make every family pay attention. Older adults may have savings. They may answer calls from unknown numbers more often. They may also have a deep instinct to help a child or grandchild in trouble. Scammers weaponize that instinct.
The machine is only one part of the scam. The real attack happens in the victim’s head. Once fear takes over, even careful people can make a decision they would never make on a calm day.
1 CLICK COST A FATHER $4 MILLION IN BITCOIN TO VISHING SCAMMERS
Minnesota’s crypto ATM ban could influence other states
Minnesota is drawing a line in the sand around one part of the crypto world that has become a real problem for scam victims: the public kiosk. People in the state will still be able to use regulated online platforms to buy and sell cryptocurrency. What is going away are the machines that let a frightened person walk into a store, feed in cash and send crypto while a scammer talks them through every tap.
Other states will likely be watching what happens next. If Minnesota’s ban cuts down on reported losses, lawmakers elsewhere may face more pressure to take a closer look at crypto kiosks in gas stations, convenience stores and shopping centers.
Supporters of the ban say that matters because these kiosks have become too easy for criminals to abuse. Critics say the machines have legitimate uses, and scammers will simply move to another payment method. That may be true. Scammers always look for the next opening. But Minnesota is betting that removing one of the fastest cash-to-crypto routes will slow the scam down enough for some victims to stop, question the story and keep their money.
Tips to avoid crypto ATM scams
The best way to protect yourself is to slow the moment down before fear turns into a payment you cannot easily reverse.
1) Hang up when someone demands crypto
No real police department, court, government agency or bank will demand payment through a crypto ATM. A legitimate company will not tell you to protect your account by feeding cash into a kiosk. If someone demands crypto, end the call. Do not debate. Do not explain. Hang up and contact the person or agency through a number you find yourself.
2) Verify the emergency before sending money
Scammers often claim a loved one is hurt, arrested or stranded. That story is designed to short-circuit your judgment. Call the person directly. If they do not answer, call another family member. A few minutes of checking can save thousands of dollars. A family code word can also help. Pick a phrase that would never appear on social media. If someone claims to be a loved one in trouble, ask for the code word before you do anything.
3) Reduce the personal info scammers can use against you
Scammers often sound convincing because they already know something about you or your family. That information can come from people-search sites, data brokers, old breaches or public records. Consider using a data removal service to reduce how much personal information is floating around online. Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com
4) Watch for coaching at the machine
If someone tells you what to tap, what to ignore or what to say if a clerk asks questions, you are likely in the middle of a scam. That coaching is a major red flag. Scammers know store employees and bank workers may spot the danger. So they prepare victims with cover stories before anyone can intervene.
5) Use strong antivirus software to block scam links
Some crypto scams start with a fake support page, phishing link or malicious download. Strong antivirus software can help block dangerous sites and files before they pull you into a scam. Get my picks for the best 2026 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android & iOS devices at Cyberguy.com
6) Talk to your bank before withdrawing cash
Large cash withdrawals should trigger a pause. Tell your bank what happened before you leave with the money. Bank employees see these scams often. In some cases, one question from a teller or manager can break through the fear and stop the loss.
7) Consider identity theft protection after a scam
If you have already sent money or shared sensitive information, identity theft protection can help monitor for new account fraud and alert you to suspicious activity. See my tips and best picks on Best Identity Theft Protection at Cyberguy.com
8) Report the scam quickly
If you sent money through a crypto kiosk, report it right away. Contact local police, your state consumer protection office and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov. The FBI says IC3 is its main intake form for cyber-enabled fraud and scams, even if you are unsure whether your complaint qualifies. Fast reporting may help investigators spot patterns and warn others before the same scam hits another family.
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Kurt’s key takeaways
Minnesota’s crypto ATM ban gets at something every family should be paying attention to. These scams move fast because they are built around fear. One scary phone call, one trip to a kiosk and money that took years to save can be gone in minutes. That to me is the part that hits hardest. Most victims do not think they are sending money to a criminal. They think they are helping a loved one, avoiding arrest or protecting their bank account. So here is the takeaway. If someone tells you to send crypto, keep it secret or stay on the phone while you move money, stop right there. Hang up, call someone you trust and verify the story before fear makes the decision for you.
Would you support a crypto ATM ban in your state, or should people still have access to the machines with stronger safeguards? Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com
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‘I’m getting an electric car’: WA gas tax to increase on July 1 for first time in 9 years

Washington’s gas tax will increase by six cents per gallon starting July 1 — the first increase in nine years.
“Everybody gets a chance to pay more at the pump. That’s great,” KIRO host John Curley said. “The hike is the most prominent piece of a six-year, $3.2 billion package passed by legislation. Legislators put that in place. Bob Ferguson signed it. Let’s take more and more of your money. In fact, I am so sick of it. I’m going to get an electric car.”
The two-year transportation budget projects a $1 billion shortfall, prompting legislators to increase the state’s gas tax, which is the primary revenue source for Washington’s transportation system.
“I’ve been going back and forth, but I’m getting an electric car,” Curley said. “Nick’s like, ‘You can’t get an electric car.’ Why? ‘Because you’re too irresponsible. You never plug it in.’ I said, ‘I will become responsible.’”
Curley shared that his commute into the city from Cle Elum and back is costing him approximately $60 a day.
By July 1, the increase will make the state’s gas tax go from 49.4 cents to 55.4 cents — the third-highest state gas tax behind California and Pennsylvania.
“This is nuts. I saw a really interesting tweet that went out, and it said the great thing about electric cars is that you can get the energy from anywhere,” Curley said. “Gas-powered cars, you can only get it from one place, and that’s gasoline. But you can get the energy from solar. You can get the energy from hydro. The energy could be created from something, like a battery. You have different sources for it. Brilliant. So I was like, ‘You know what? I’m going to break down and buy one.’”
The state tax on diesel will also climb on July 1 to 58.4 cents, up an additional three cents.
Watch the full discussion in the video above.
Listen to John Curley weekday afternoons from 3 – 7 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.

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