Posted on 02/01/2026 6:17:47 AM PST by Libloather
California drivers and Republican legislators are furious over a Democrat-led proposal that could see motorists taxed for each mile they drive.
With the state staring down a budget deficit in the billions and more Californians switching to electric vehicles, Democratic lawmakers are searching for new ways to shore up declining gas tax revenue.
Californians pay the second-highest gas price in the nation behind only Hawaii. In January, the average price was $4.23 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.
On Thursday, state legislators advanced Democrat Lori Wilson’s bill, AB 1421, which would direct the California Transportation Commission and the state Transportation Agency to continue studying options for a mileage-based tax, rather than implementing one.
Opponents of the proposal were out in force Saturday, with activists gathering at Cal Expo in Sacramento to collect signatures opposing a raft of new Democratic tax measures, including a potential mileage charge.
“I just got very tense and insecure, because I drive a lot of miles,” said Sherrie Ann Lorenzo, a Chico resident. “I don’t want to be taxed for driving. It’s my freedom. I live in the home of the free, I thought.”
Under concepts outlined in the study, the tax could range from two to nine cents per mile. With California drivers logging roughly 11,400 miles a year on average, a mileage charge could cost motorists between $228 and $1,026 annually.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
Margaret Thatcher:
The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples’ money.
Ban electric vehicles.
Require Internal Combustion Vehicles.
They ran out of other people’s money some time ago—now they’re just burying us in debt and inflation.
Couldn’t happen to a nicer state…lol.
Intermediate step to 15 minute cities. See? Live close to where you work and reside? Save on taxes!
Don’t Californians care the most in the world about saving the planet? Won’t this reduce driving of those nasty fossil fuel vehicles annd force more people on to public transportation and contribute towards saving the planet? Isn’t it only fair that they put their money where their mouths are?
“Will there be anyone out there that can help solve this dilemma?”
Texas took care of declining gas tax revenue (in real dollars) by simply using general funds for road work. We haven’t budged our gas taxes in decades.
This is why the “affordability” ruse was never going to work against Trump.
Would California be allowed to tax miles driven in other states? After all, such mileage doesn’t put wear on California roads nor affect California’s air quality. If only California mileage is to be taxed, the locations of all California-registered vehicles will need to be tracked.
Either way, no thanks.
“Typical California driver:
I am infuriated by this proposed tax.
I will also continue to vote Democrat.”
Let me help you with the last line...
“I will also continue to vote Democrat because I HATE TRUMP”
“They ran out of other people’s money some time ago—now they’re just burying us in debt and inflation.”
Right, and therein lies the problem. Paying for the stupid spending never ends. Once you get behind, there no way to catch up other than a collapse of the existing system.
Yep.....what’s that definition of insanity again? Lol!
The people of CA are idiots. Even when faced with oppression, they’re unable to comprehend they’ve done it to themselves. They won’t vote Republican, they’ll just vote Dem, hoping for a better outcome. Insane.
The interesting part isn’t the per-mile charge, although it is nasty, it’s the real-time tracking and flexibility it gives the government there to control lives. This is part of the system they’re talking about.
For example:
1. You can charge more on some roads/highways than others
2. You can charge based on vehicle type and value (something they already do)
3. You can charge based on day of the week and time of day
4. You can charge based on reported income
5. You can charge based based on political party
6. You can charge based on whether the owner eats meat or is a vegetarian.
7...the list is infinite
...while 5 and 6 are unlikely in the short term, I never put anything beyond the Democrats as they consolidate their power.
(but I know, your Senator said something mean about Trump, so you’re going to sit out his November re-election, right ‘purists’?)
“Yes, the people living in it. They need to move somewhere where sane people govern, or vote out the stupid people.”
Don’t want to see that. Look what it did to Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Arizona.
Somebody has to support Joe Pedo the Pedophile’s 20 million imported freeloaders who want to live like gringos in the United States. What’s in your wallet.
Crackifornia.
The entrenched pols in the Sacramento state house do not care - their gas or EV is paid for by taxpayers - that or they’ll carve out exemptions for themselves.
Idiot voters continue to vote for this.
California: Idiot voters + illegals voting + no voter ID + mail in ballots + unmarked ballots coming in 14 days after the election = Gavin Newsom and others of his ilk in perpetuity.
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