Posted on 01/06/2010 10:26:54 PM PST by Lorianne
If you don't like gasoline taxes, here's an alternative: a tax on the number of miles you drive in a year.
The Texas Transportation Commission has directed a fresh study of the idea, and it is not alone. There are pilot projects in other states and nationally to gauge how such a tax would work.
Texas transportation officials say the study is meant to help give lawmakers information on options ahead of their next regular session in 2011, when they confront a funding squeeze that is expected to drain the highway fund of money for new construction contracts by 2012.
“We need to think differently about how we fund transportation,” Texas Transportation Commission Chairwoman Deirdre Delisi said at a Texas Taxpayers and Research Association forum in November.
Delisi said the vehicle-miles-traveled tax idea is controversial, but should be discussed because revenue from the state's main source of transportation funding, the motor fuels tax, is declining. The gasoline tax has not been raised since 1991.
The commission asked the Texas Transportation Institute, which is part of the Texas A&M University System, to take the lead on the study. Commissioner Fred Underwood has emphasized that the commission's goal is to give lawmakers alternatives.
(Excerpt) Read more at chron.com ...
That idea died a quick death in California
Absolutely and we all will be taxed by the breath. Carbon footprint ya know.
The gas taxes does not go into a transportation fund to repair roads and bridges. It goes to the general fund.
Damn these Republicans..........Oh, never mind.
Taxation is theft.
Gov. Perry needs to "think different" about the people he appoints to head the TTC. He hasn't done such a good job of that so far.
Deirdre Delisi is a Republican. I think all the Austin Delisi's are.
This is because so many people have bought lower mpg cars. The government is taking in less on gas taxes.
Poor slobs. They thought they were being smart, so they didn’t have to deal with the high cost of gas. But politicians don’t like being denied their piece of flesh.
They are just going to take it out in other ways.
So Texas is spending money on a study to figure out how to take more money from tax payers. Isn’t this like taking a mugger down to the pawn shop and buying his gun only to be robbed in short order?
If you want to raise taxes so badly then do it. If you want to raise taxes in a sneaky back door manor then shame on you.
Tennessee puts 100% of their gas tax back to the roads. It is law. That’s why Tennessee is ranked #1 by trucker mag year in and year out as the best roads in the nation. A tax that is applicable to diversion will most certainly become corrupt.
Any sensible objective human being should say YES!!
When I was a smoker, all you non smokers said “tax the crap out of them”. Now, I do not drive and I say “tax the crap out of you drivers!” (Not really, as a conservative I really don’t want taxes of any kind).
....Bob
“Should [Texas] drivers be taxed by the mile? “
Only if politicians are taxed by the lie.
If we could do that, the deficit would become a surplus within six months.
Good point!!
You bet, tax the heck out of those Texans. How about some sort of a triple tax just for the fun of it. Heck, call the tax “Obama and Friends Slush Fund”.
I double dog dare the politicians to get the Texans good and pissed off... then we might see some progress.
The Texans that I know are proud to the extreme, strong, honest, hardworking patriots and they’re armed.... Please piss these folks off. Get them pissed off all at the same time and hang on to your hat.... it’ll be fun.
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