Posted on 03/26/2011 8:20:39 AM PDT by FredJake
Imagine being taxed for the miles you drive every day to work.
At the request of Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) issued a report that suggested taxing people based on the miles they drive could raise revenues that would offset the costs of highway maintenance.
Conrad held a hearing earlier in March addressing this very issue.
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood told Conrad the administration hopes to spend $556 billion over the next six years, much of which would go to federal transportation improvement projects, according to a post at The Hill.
The Hill reports:
Conrad said in response that federal funds are tight, and in asking for recommendations on how to raise that money, he noted the possibility of a VMT tax as a way to solve the problem of collecting less in taxes as people move to more fuel-efficient vehicles.
"Do we do gas tax?" Conrad asked. "Do we move to some kind of an assessment that is based on how many miles vehicles go, so that we capture revenue from those who are going to be using the roads who aren't going to be paying any gas tax, or very little, with hybrids and electric cars?"
(Excerpt) Read more at examiner.com ...
We could do something really crazy and make sure highway funds actually go into highways.
A few years back, Carl Levin was seeking several million dollars from the highway fund to save Tiger stadium in Detroit. His justification for wanting highway funds was that a bus stop would be built into the place.
I hope that my family is blessed with good health and prosperity...
The gov't "hopes" to make that less likely...
It’s time to tax politicians for every word that speak when they open their mouth. I’m getting tired of their sorry asses and their tax schemes.
Another attack on Texas and middle America where we don’t have access to public transportation. All those folks crammed into a few square miles in the northeast don’t drive anyway.
The problem is that the government already raises too much revenue. And of course spends too much. We do not need for the government to be taking more money out of the productive economy and diverting it to the destructive government sector.
There is already tax on gasoline. So the more you drive, the more taxes you pay.
For the children.
The spend all that money on social programs. They need more money. Government needs more money, I tell you!
Absolutely! Not only that, if you you "sacrifice" and have a smaller vehicle or otherwise use less fuel, you are rewarded.
This tax on mileage is one of the most stupid, self-serving, money-grubbing things I've seen lately. What can you expect from a bunch of drug addicts - where their drug is other people's money?!
And like the TSA, we will find there will be billions needed to be spent on technology to implement. The owners/insiders of the companies that get the contract will be former government officials who pushed this forward. Betcha Gary Locke from Commerce gets part of the vig.
It is basically an attack on the rural and working populations. People who are driving to work everyday or drive long distances to get to town will be most effected. Urban residents and folks who don’t drive or have a need to drive (because they don’t work)are effected the least. This will largely fall on the more conservative (and productive) members of the population.
The proposal is only a brain fart.
And that "smart meters" are being installed by energy companies so you, the consumer, will enjoy "lower rates".
Soon enough, the population will get used to both and the government will use them for their own means.
http://www.autoquotenow.com/auto-insurance-news/headlines/device-to-track-speed-of-the-vehicle-braking-behaviours-and-mileage-3404.php
http://www.pge.com/myhome/customerservice/smartmeter/
Well, I'm off to the store now, my supply of tin foil is running low.
I heard this on Fox News last night. I’d like to know how they think they can raise billions with this tax. How are they going to do that if, say, some people decide to retire early, get rid of extra vehicle(s), don’t take vacations, and stay home on the weekends? I mean not only are they not getting those taxes, they’ll get less taxes on all the retired people’s income.
Just stupid talk. Maybe our government needs a reminder of what happens when people are taxed too much.
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