Why would governments spend millions of dollars setting up new systems and organizations to collect millions? Why not just raise the amounts/rates of current taxes? Most states already have several revenue streams that include income and sales taxes and a host of fees. Why not just increase those to get more from their constituents?
In addition to an insatiable thirst for holding sway over we citizens, new revenue streams provide cover for increases in the other revenue sources. That is, you don’t have to bear the resistance of raising income tax rates when you have another couple of million and more coming in from legal marijuana or tolls or whatever the next thing to be taxed is. Most new revenue sources are sold as “one time”, dedicated to addressing (fill in the blank), or to save us stupid citizens from doing something bad to ourselves like drink pop. Recall most lottery money was to go to education. Here in Connecticut, it ended up in the general fund only to be lost in the morass of state government. Now they want to set up a Toll Authority with the intention of toll money going to roads and bridges. How are those previous “lock boxes” working fellow Nutmeggers? You can probably ask a similar question of any state or taxing authority. Just where did the money I already gave you go?
Current Day Publius 