Windfall gas profits

Re "Fuel-tax reality" (Your Opinions, April 18):

John O'Malley says that Gary Hastings is mistaken
about windfalls to the state from higher tax revenues
as the price of gas goes up. According to the
California Energy Commission's Web site, state and
local sales taxes, averaging 8 percent, are computed
into the price of a gallon, in addition to the 18-cent
state tax. So if gas prices go up, local revenues
increase along with state revenues.

I do agree with the second part of his letter,
however: The best way to bring prices down is to
decrease demand. I'm doing my part by riding my
motorcycle to work instead of my car. If half of the
motorcycles I see on the road during the weekend were
being driven to work, we could ease congestion while
beating the energy crisis.

Kit Maira
Agoura Hills