Posted on 10/05/2010 11:01:36 AM PDT by Willie Green
A tax on vehicle miles traveled (VMT) was shot down last year by President Obama. But a new study by respected transportation experts – and a successful pilot program in Oregon – should revive the idea.
As more Americans buy hybrid or electric cars, drivers in traditional gas-only vehicles are bound to start asking: Why should I still be paying more in fuel taxes? Don’t we all use the highways?
Indeed, the gas tax is quickly becoming an unjust way to finance the costs of roads and bridges. All vehicles, whether they be a Hummer or a Prius, use the same infrastructure, which needs to be built and maintained regardless of a car’s fuel type.
There is an alternative, one that is fair, already proven, and, based on a new study by some 80 experts, the best way to start financing surface transportation.
It is a pay-as-you-go fee system based simply on distance, or a tax on “vehicle miles traveled” (VMT). The idea is the centerpiece recommendation of the study, released Monday, called “Well Within Reach: America’s New Transportation Agenda.” The report is based on a recent three-day conference of experts at the University of Virginia.
Oregon already tested a VMT system in 2006-07, using 299 volunteer motorists. The pilot program equipped their vehicles with devices that allowed gas stations to track their mileage during each fill-up. More than 90 percent of the participants said they would agree to use it in lieu of the gas tax, and the state’s governor is now seeking $10 million to expand the program.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Mike
Yea, I bet!
OH, yes, the Citizen Travel Control Tax. A mainstay of Communists such as Obama and the Democrats. They want to control how much and where and when we travel so they disguise it as a “tax”.
“You traveled too much, citizen, no more travel for you!”
“You traveled too far, citizen, no more travel for you!”
“You traveled too many miles, citizen, no more travel for you!”
just the government greedy finding another pocket to pick.
I know the answer: we should all ride trains!
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO. Did I say NO? Because I meant to say NO.
Well, November is coming and we've got a chance to bury all these stupid ideas, including those hair brained 'light rail' projects and drive a stake through their hearts.
I can't wait...
If hybrid drivers are not paying their fair share in highway dollars, why not simply remove the $3400 tax credit they get for purchasing the car and put it towards fixing the roads?
“in lieu of the gas tax”
Yeah, like that will happen.
Remember that these policy wonks are paid to come up with these stupid ideas and some other parasite is then paid to evaluate it. If it does not work, they are not liable for all the costs they impose on the rest of us. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Way too intrusive.
Well, if car owners are complaining about high gasoline taxes, I have a very unusual solution to propose.
Lower the taxes.
Crazy bureaucrats like taking those Revenue Enhancement pills, don’t they?
Plus, you know governments would LOVE to have a justification for GPS tracking of every private vehicle. OF COURSE it would never be used for ANYTHING other than taxaction /sick sarcasm.
Ah, the stupid liberals are getting a clue that their green policies will equal less gas tax revenue.
But, but, but I thought it was a GOOD thing to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and drive environmentally sound Priuses around town. But lower taxes, dirty hippies to make your socialist nanny state smaller? Naw... not gonna happen.
It won’t be in “lieu of the gas tax”.
You know how these people operate.
More likely, it will be IN ADDITION TO the gas tax.
It’s a use tax and in a perfect world might well be the way to go. The real problem is that the government will impose the VMT and keep the existing gas tax in place.
That's bullshit...you KNOW they won't do away with the current taxes on fuel; they'll just ADD taxes by the mile on top of it.
What tax do Progressives/Liberals/Socialists/Communists/Democrats EVER repeal, other than to INCREASE THEM?
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