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Obama floats plan to tax cars by the mile
The Hill ^

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.


TOPICS: Breaking News; Business/Economy; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 2012; 2012election; bho44; bhofascism; bhotyranny; cars; cartax; centralplanning; communism; corruption; dearleader; democrats; donttreadonme; duhpresidency; econuts; elections; energy; envirofascism; fascism; fubo; gas; govtabuse; greengestapo; greengoblins; hopeychangey; ilduce; kentconrad; kingofthedeficit; liberalfascism; liberals; marxism; mile; nobama2012; notaxes4dnc; obama; obamatruthfile; politbureauknowsbest; progressives; socialism; socialistdemocrats; socialistjoker; sodomhusseinobama; tax; taxbythemile; taxes; tyranny; vmt; vodooeconomics
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To: Sub-Driver

The taxpayers are really being drained by the thieves in the statehouses and especially in DC. We are being stolen from by the monsters called politicians, thieves and liars for the most part.


281 posted on 05/05/2011 5:03:47 PM PDT by kindred (Come Lord Jesus, rule and reign over all thine enemies.)
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To: littleharbour

I was kidding of course. But I’ll still strap it on the ATV. And no cellphone use in the car.


282 posted on 05/05/2011 5:07:04 PM PDT by Peter from Rutland
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To: LUV W

CLARITY
Too bad others (LibTARDS)
don't seem to see
What O-BUMMER
is doing to our country!

283 posted on 05/05/2011 5:09:42 PM PDT by yorkie (Our POTUS makes me think the person I detested the MOST -- would have been better! (Hillary))
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To: LUV W

CLARITY
Too bad others (LibTARDS)
don't seem to see
What O-BUMMER
is doing to our country!

284 posted on 05/05/2011 5:09:52 PM PDT by yorkie (Our POTUS makes me think the person I detested the MOST -- would have been better! (Hillary))
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To: blue-duncan; Dr. Eckleburg; xzins; P-Marlowe; 1000 silverlings; Gamecock; Alex Murphy; HarleyD
No, I do believe you have this all wrong. This will be an honors program...

Ohhhhhhhhhh....like the income tax.

285 posted on 05/05/2011 5:24:54 PM PDT by HarleyD
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To: frogjerk

(if you drive a car, car;) - I’ll tax the street;
(if you try to sit, sit;) - I’ll tax your seat;
(if you get too cold, cold;) - I’ll tax the heat;
(if you take a walk, walk;) - I’ll tax your feet.

Yes we too will soon be Communist China. Bicycle anyone?


286 posted on 05/05/2011 5:50:20 PM PDT by Mrs. Frogjerk
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To: Spktyr
thanks Sir...my tinfoil says that commies plan waaaaay in advance, and have put the mechanisms in place to use it eventually in the mandated CPU design/programming...

death by a thousand cuts and a 'divide and conquer' mindset leads me to believe that fed would also get more sheepish compliance piecemeal [and expands more later] by not initially saying RFID or GPS right off the bat, and instead allow the newer vehichles to have this kind of 'harmless' intrusion used...ultimately, this process would require a few new divisions of beareucrats that would line up to check papers/cpus.../paranoid theories of fedzilla rant...

287 posted on 05/05/2011 6:37:12 PM PDT by Gilbo_3 (Gov is not reason; not eloquent; its force.Like fire,a dangerous servant & master. George Washington)
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To: Sub-Driver
Well, I didn't think there was any way they could lose California, but this might just do it. Car capitol of the world with no public transportation infrastructure...this would go over like a led balloon.
288 posted on 05/05/2011 6:42:48 PM PDT by americanophile ("this absurd theology of an immoral Bedouin, is a rotting corpse which poisons our lives"-Ataturk)
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To: meatloaf

They can do it, just would be very expensive and require a huge bureaucracy. Think of it as an “investment in the future.”


289 posted on 05/05/2011 7:13:17 PM PDT by vlad335
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To: Gilbo_3

They may very well do that eventually, but it’s not in the spec now. People have been watching this sort of stuff for just this reason. Any makes that do record that data have different and very proprietary tools to pull the data with and they are emphatically not compatible with each other - yet.

In fact, it’s gotten so bad that many independent shops are complaining about the dozens of thousands of dollars they have to spend on new diagnostic gear every time someone releases a new generation of cars. The Ford VCM diagnostic kit, for example, is $5K for the very basic hardware, but it’s well over $12K for one that can do most things you’d want PLUS the annual subscription. BMW’s DME-compatible gear is even worse - you used to be able to buy a house for what they want for that thing. VW has a cheap and easy one that’s just a simple cable to your computer, though. Point is there’s no unified standard for this stuff yet and there’s no way in hell the government will be able to get your existing car to rat on you at the gas station using its existing computer. Easier to just use a GPS/RFID box for existing cars and decree a new standard for future vehicles.


290 posted on 05/05/2011 7:13:27 PM PDT by Spktyr (Overwhelmingly superior firepower and the willingness to use it is the only proven peace solution.)
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To: IamConservative

This proposal collects taxes from electric cars and those running on fuel not presently taxed for highways.

But what’s with the new electronic tracking device? Why not use the odometer already in vehicles?

Oh, so it IS a sneaky way to get GPS tracking of our daily and hourly travels.


291 posted on 05/05/2011 7:29:16 PM PDT by Aroostook25
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To: Sub-Driver

*


292 posted on 05/05/2011 7:49:55 PM PDT by PMAS
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To: Sub-Driver

Now now, Obama doesnt want your carbon footprint to be too big. So with that in mind, you will run or bike to work. And maybe wear a flatulence bag like some cattle wear...all for the benefit of society of course.

Or something.


293 posted on 05/05/2011 8:10:00 PM PDT by Soothesayer9
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To: Sub-Driver; greyfoxx39; sickoflibs; bamahead

I wonder how many liberals would be interested in this?

I can’t imagine even they would be real keen on the idea.

This could be his death knell, I hope, I hope....


294 posted on 05/05/2011 8:20:31 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Sub-Driver
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.

Sure. This will cost more than it's going to bring in. All it will do is add another bloated, cost ineffective bureaucracy to the government.

No thanks. Not interested in Big Brother keeping tabs on my whereabouts.

295 posted on 05/05/2011 8:24:27 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: Sub-Driver
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.

Sure. This will cost more than it's going to bring in. All it will do is add another bloated, cost ineffective bureaucracy to the government.

No thanks. Not interested in Big Brother keeping tabs on my whereabouts.

296 posted on 05/05/2011 8:25:24 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: dennisw

Even libs will revolt against this ... so thanks pres. Obongo!


I would guess about 70% would go for it.


297 posted on 05/05/2011 8:26:17 PM PDT by unkus
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To: Sub-Driver
All those leftist greenies who bought Priuses are feeling totally betrayed.
298 posted on 05/05/2011 8:26:16 PM PDT by Rockitz (This isn't rocket science- follow the money and you'll find truth.)
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To: Dr. Eckleburg

Surreal, isn’t it?

This needs to be broadcast far and wide.

I doubt that this is the kind of hope and change most people thought they were getting when the loser got elected.


299 posted on 05/05/2011 8:38:55 PM PDT by metmom (Welfare was never meant to be a career choice.)
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To: massgopguy
"Muslims would get an exemption."

And they would be granted access to the "fast lane" on federal highways. Non-Muzzies, the SLOW lane.

300 posted on 05/05/2011 8:42:01 PM PDT by Soothesayer9
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