Possible VP Pick Pawlenty: Per Mile Tax Might Replace Gas Tax

Business & Media Institute ^ | August 6, 2008 | Jeff Poor

[Saint X]

The high price of gas has driven down demand. Now politicians like Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty are worried gas taxes might not be able to fund infrastructure projects.

Pawlenty proposed a consumption tax on driving as a possible replacement for the gasoline tax. He is rumored to be a possible running mate for presumptive GOP presidential nominee Sen. John McCain.

[Republicus2001]

if there is less demand there is less need for new infrastructure - Bam! NEXT!

[Mr. K]

Then you deduct your mileage on your income tax travel expense, and it all evens out...:)

I was listening to Walter Williams last night give a speach and PLEASE PLEASE GOD LET HIM RUN FOR PRESIDENT OR VP~!!

[FocusNexus]

The gas tax IS a consumption tax, the more you drive, the more gas you use, the more taxes you pay.

The per mile tax is ridiculous, how are you going to enforce it. He seems to just want to tax more, since people have more fuel efficient cars and don’t pay enough taxes — or so he thinks.

I never cared for Pawlentry, now this and him talking nice about Obama’s positive message... I don’t think I want him as McCain’s VP.

[Onelifetogive]

Pawlenty proposed a consumption tax on driving as a possible replacement for the gasoline tax.

This is a great idea! It could still be implemented through the gas tax. When I drive my V12 Jag up to the pump, the taxes are automatically lowered to reflect a flat $/mile tax rate. When a Prius drives up, the tax shyrockets!!!

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

One of the ideas Pawlenty mentioned as a possible fix was a mileage-based fee tracked by global positioning system (GPS) devices or other electronic means.

How about going further and having only government-approved cars then. This along with Pawlenty's ridiclous praise for Obama. Typical milquetoast me-too liberal Republican. If McCain picks him I'm staying home.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I’ve heard that this has been talked about for years. Previously people had said that since today’s cars get better mileage than years ago, that we’re using less gas per mile, so less tax is collected than years ago. But probably the tax per gallon has risen since years ago in most places. The federal gas tax has gone up, and I bet most states have quietly raised their gas taxes.

If it’s a clean trade-out of one tax for another, maybe it could be justified, maybe. I would be afraid of bait and switch, where we end up paying BOTH a mileage tax AND an ongoing per gallon gas tax.

[xcamel]

Tim Pawlenty is worried gas taxes might not be able to fund the unlimited union highway construction vote buying schemes that have kept the bureaucrats fat and happy for so many years...."

[xcamel]

perfect example of why the ‘fairtax’ is such a damned bad idea...

[We Dare Defend Our Rights]

Don't know about less demand for gas, but there is less demand for Tim Pawlenty

[dennisw]

if there is less demand there is less need for new infrastructure - Bam! NEXT!

There less demand for tax sucking morons like Pawlenty. Get out my face commissar! America is to good for eco-wackos like you

[Bigh4u2]

"The per mile tax is ridiculous, how are you going to enforce it."

Ya know when the insurance companies ask how many miles per year (estimated) that you intend to drive (less than 10,000. More than 10,000)?

And of course they will be REQUIRED to report this info to DMV....(if they aren't already)

Or how about when you re-register? Or, in the case of NY, reInspect? (every year)

Just a couple of thoughts.

[Vaquero]

B.O. Pawlenty

[dennisw]

The per mile tax is ridiculous, how are you going to enforce it. He seems to just want to tax more, since people have more fuel efficient cars and don’t pay enough taxes — or so he thinks.

It is very easy to enforce
Establish whole new lard ass bureaucracy to download information each day from the compulsory black box/GPS/recorder in your car. Stiff fines if you screw with the system

[staytrue]

the more you drive, the more gas you use, the more taxes you pay

Pawlenty is right. When the electric cars and plug in hybrids come out, cars will be using little or no gas and still using the roads. Like it or not, this shift may be needed.

On the other hand, the current per gallon tax favors electrics over gas burners and the Pawlenty switch may be considered anti environment.

[TexasGunLover]

Why does this surprise anyone... Mitt, McCain, Rudy, Hussein... they’re all cut from the same cloth... they’re all ultra-liberals.

[Tex Pete]

Texas has not raised gas taxes in a long time, which is nice. The problem is that Texas, and most everywhere else, uses the gas tax to fund a lot of other things.

I think it’s about time for the goverment to tighten its’ belt, too.

[devistate one four]

He da man!

[Dead Corpse]

I'm all for it. Under certain conditions that no politician would ever agree to.

1. Every road is tolled. This could be done virtually via GPS unit installed in each vehicle and billed like a local utility or cell phone service
2. It's 100% privatized with no monopoly granted to a limited number of companies
3. It fully replaces all government fees, regulations, taxes, and licensing requirements
4. That said companies, and their insurance carriers, are free to "regulate" speeds and traffic on their contracted sections of roadway
5. That the public may freely contract between companies without involuntary coercion

I'm sure there are other "weasel room" points that could be added. But anything less than the above leaves too much control over EVERY MOVE YOU MAKE and sets the stage for even more Police State crap.

Government run, this whole shebang is a recipe for a "command and control" society.

[FocusNexus]

“It is very easy to enforce
Establish whole new lard ass bureaucracy to download information each day from the compulsory black box/GPS/recorder in your car. Stiff fines if you screw with the system”

The worst is that what you describe is not as far fetched, as we would like it to be.

Then they’ll check your tire pressure every day too, and fine you if it isn’t high enough.

They will also keep track of where you are driving and will fine you, if they decide you do too much “unnecessary” driving.

1984 has just been slightly delayed.