Agreed. But the tax would be to the cause of the need. It might make rail more competitive when appropriate, for example, if cars weren’t subsidizing truck transport.
Obama floated that tax by the mile balloon once and there was a huge backlash. But these are different times. Obama wanted all of this radical stuff years ago but he was too chicken to go for it. He didn’t want to be blamed if the country imploded. He wants to be a popular celebrity.
If Obama is the one calling all the shots now (I think so), Biden is the one who will catch hell when it all goes horribly wrong.