Posted on 07/11/2014 2:51:20 PM PDT by robowombat
Center for American Progress wants mileage-based highway fee
By Keith Laing - 07/11/14 12:08 PM EDT
The Center for American Progress is calling for Congress to ditch the federal gas tax in lieu of a system where drivers pay fees for road construction based on how many miles they travel.
The proposed mileage-based system has been controversial in previous transportation funding debates because critics question how government would monitor the traveling habits of drivers without infringing upon their privacy.
ADVERTISEMENT
But the Center for American Progress said Friday that taxing drivers based on how far they drive is a much more sustainable system than the current 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax. With people driving more fuel-efficient cars, the gas tax isn't bringing in enough money and Congress is scrambling to reach a deal to prevent a cut-off in federal road repair funds.
The mileage-based taxation system was one of four recommendations made Friday by the Center for American Progress, which was founded by White House adviser John Podesta.
The groups other ideas included a 15-cent gas tax hike to stabilize federal highway funding, which would be used to transition government away from the gas tax, and a $100 million mileage-based fee pilot program in 10-15 states.
The recommendations come as Congress is moving toward approving a temporary stopgap that would infuse about $10 billion into the Department of Transportations beleaguered Highway Trust Fund.
The gas tax has been the traditional source for funding for the trust fund since it was created in the 1950s. It hasn't been hiked since 1993.
Budget analysts have predicted a $16 billion shortfall next year between gas tax revenue and what Congress wants to spend on roads. The gas tax typically brings in about $34 billion per year, compared with $50 billion in annual road and transit spending.
The Transportation department has warned that it would have to cut its funding to states by 28 percent if Congress does not act quickly to replenish the Highway Trust Fund.
Center for American Progress Director of Infrastructure Policy Kevin DeGood said it was time for Congress to look for other funding sources besides the gas tax if it hopes to craft a meaningful long-term transportation funding bill.
For too long, Congress avoided addressing our transportation funding problem, he said. Americans need a long-term solution. Mileage fees offer an equitable and effective way to provide for our transportation needs.
All it would take is passing the law and then contracting with Google. Where do you think all that instant traffic data on Google Maps comes from?
Which brings up the question of what company might be lobbying behind CAP for this law...
The idea of user fees to pay for necessary services is entirely conservative.
Which doesn’t mean particular (supposed) implementations of the notion are anything of the kind.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.