This NOT about revenue. It IS about more control, tracking, watching.
Already, IF you drive more miles, you use more gas, you pay more tax. So, what is the differemce?
This is absolutely correct. I argue this every time this comes up. As you say, a gas tax is a mileage tax. If you don't drive, you don't need the gas, you don't pay the tax. The gov't prefers an explicit mileage tax because it includes the necessity of tracking and, thus, gives the opportunity for further control. The gas tax is too anonymous to satisfy their tyranical proclivities.
It is about MORE control.
Taxes are about control as well. Taxing AND tracking is more control.
I think the larger amount of gas tax is federal not state. States cannot do anything about federal taxes...So it might be possible to get more state tax by taxing the amount of miles drive....just my opinion, nothing to back it up on...