Posted on 05/05/2011 5:42:55 AM PDT by Sub-Driver
Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile By Pete Kasperowicz - 05/05/11 07:45 AM ET
The Obama administration has floated a transportation authorization bill that would require the study and implementation of a plan to tax automobile drivers based on how many miles they drive.
The plan is a part of the administration's "Transportation Opportunities Act," an undated draft of which was obtained this week by Transportation Weekly.
This follows a March Congressional Budget Office report that supported the idea of taxing drivers based on miles driven.
Among other things, CBO suggested that a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax could be tracked by installing electronic equipment on each car to determine how many miles were driven; payment could take place electronically at filling stations.
The CBO report was requested by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND), who has proposed taxing cars by the mile as a way to increase federal highway revenues.
Obama's proposal seems to follow up on that idea in section 2218 of the draft bill. That section would create, within the Federal Highway Administration, a Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. It would be tasked with creating a "study framework that defines the functionality of a mileage-based user fee system and other systems."
The administration seems to be aware of the need to prepare the public for what would likely be a controversial change to the way highway funds are collected. For example, the office is called on to serve a public relations function, as the draft says it should "increase public awareness regarding the need for an alternative funding source for surface transportation programs and provide information on possible approaches."
The draft bill says the "study framework" for the project and a public awareness communications plan should be established within two years of creating the office, and that field tests should begin within four years.
The office would be required to consider four factors in field trials: the capability of states to enforce payment, the reliability of technology, administrative costs, and "user acceptance." The draft does not specify where field trials should begin.
The new office would be funded a total of $200 million through FY 2017 for the project.
Yeah! You’d need to add in a .5 multiplier somewhere.
Tax you how many steps you walk, how much air you breath, tax you how many years you are alive... tax, tax, tax, ....
HEY PEOPLE !!! I ALREADY THOUGHT WE WERE ALREADY TAXED BY DRIVING BY THE MILE ? THE GAS TAX ! AND YES I AM SHOUTING BECAUSE ALL OF US ARE SO TIRED OF THIS CRAP !!!!
What would happen if these SOBs start a civil war they can’t control?
I would not want to be near any government employees if they start such a war.
This is also a tax on people that don’t live within large cities. Many people live in suburban areas and commute into the city. They would be hit harder than the Obama voters that live within the city.
Prius and Volt drivers aren’t paying their fair share of gas tax - with a mileage tax everyone who creates even a portion of glowball warming will be taxed at the same rate - no matter what their footprint - because they will be taxed per footprint - not the weight of the footprint.
See how easy it is.....;>)
‘A Bureaucratic Mind is a Terrible thing......’
Love it.
(sorry, couldn't resist...guess I better pay my tax now)
Tell me again why polls suggest we can’t beat this guy next fall?
Maybe another reason why they are floating this is to test people’s reaction to this and find ways how the government can counter act it....
Punishing people for long commutes - many of which were caused by a sh*tty economy (perpetuated by Obama) making it necessary to take a far-flung job 50 miles away...
Punishing people for driving to vacations and tourism, that’ll really help the tourism industry.
Great idea there, Barry. D*uchebag.
Here is a new idea, how about government cut spending and cut taxes ? it works every time it is tried.
Or it might have the opposite effect. Businesses and corporations might move out to where their best workers are and have nice, campus-like HQ’s in the ‘burbs rather than expensive sky scrapers in the middle of town. Not to mention the boost this would be for telecommuting. They might well shoot themselves in the foot on this one.
Good explanation. Thanks!
I can see it now...Prius owners putting up Craigs list ads to seek RV camper owners - pay them money to fill the RV’s up and siphon the gas into their unfortunately high MPG vehicles ...lol
If Obama doesn’t deny this immediately he’s lost 2012 big time.
What insanity. Electronic monitors in our cars reporting to the government how far (and where) we drive, and then taxing us on the mileage.
There really are human beings sitting in offices thinking up these satanic schemes. Astounding.
But this penalizes the Prius drivers and encourages the use of big gas-guzzlers.....
Good point. In my view, government meddling in the free market accelerated the exodus from cities, with a combination of inner-city rent control and mandated fuel economy increases that began in the 70's.
It seemed impossible at the time, but the manufacturers did succeed in reducing the cost per mile driven, such that commuting became immensely less expensive. Combine lower costs per mile with cheaper real estate in the suburbs, and you get massive migration away from city centers. Higher costs per mile will cause some return to city centers over time.
The sad thing is that, the stated goal of CAFE was to reduce the comsumption of petroleum, but since commuting longer distances was made more economically feasible, the increased miles driven (we drive 30% more miles today than in 1974) completely nullified the goal of reduced consumption.
The other trend that bears mentioning is the new tendency for sprawl around major airport hubs, like Dulles and Dallas Fort-Worth, which is an example of businesses, as you point out, moving to "where the action is".
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