Govt plan to tax drivers by the mile

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Cashizslick

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Obama administration floats draft plan to tax cars by the mile - The Hill's Floor Action

The article says its a "preliminary draft". It is worth noting that if something like this is already in the planning stages, implementation cant be too many years away.

Its also worth noting that we are already taxed by the mile because we pay taxes when we fill up our gas tanks. This is the governments way of taxing us twice.

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.

The White House, however, said the bill is only an early draft that was not formally circulated within the administration.

“This is not an administration proposal," White House spokeswoman Jennifer Psaki said. "This is not a bill supported by the administration. This was an early working draft proposal that was never formally circulated within the administration, does not taken into account the advice of the president’s senior advisers, economic team or Cabinet officials, and does not represent the views of the president.”

News of the draft 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-N.D.), 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 fiscal 2017 for the project.
 
...The whole article contradicts itself. It does not represent the president's view but was proposed by him? Also, it's the administration's plan although was never formally circulated or reviewed by them?

And, also, would this replace the highway-use tax in addition to the gas tax?

These guys are full of shit.
 
A lot of folks didn't believe something like the patriot act would ever pass. The concern that I have with it is folks who live in metropolitan areas will think this is a fantastic idea because they have no concept of what driving really means to most people. They ignore the fact that a lot of places do not have 24 hour public transpiration.
 
Odometer fraud would skyrocket. I'd do it :ph34r:

If it where to go through they would hook it into the ECU from the factory. No more chipping or flashing ECUs. Probably throw in GPS and accelerometer to make sure that you are "driving effectively".

Had another thought. They would most likely implement it in the commercial sector first. Because everyone knows that those big evil shipping companies are just gang raping mother earth.
 
I'm pretty sure this has been tried before, and shot down every time.

If it comes up again, another strongly worded letter. My congressman must think I'm an angry sumbitch.
 
I think MN is looking at this - "due to higher MPG/Hybrid vehicles" which reduce the amount of gas tax revenue raised.
 
I was actually thinking about that; but they charge a highway-use tax anyways(for us at least).
 
It would be ironic if all the morons who bought hybrids were hit with some type of milage fee because they use less gas and therefore pay less gas tax.
 
Had another thought. They would most likely implement it in the commercial sector first. Because everyone knows that those big evil shipping companies are just gang raping mother earth.

The thing that would piss me off is that everything comes by truck, somehow, someway. Cost of goods go up, another anal raping of our wallets.

The only thing I would like about this bill is it makes a level playing field. I pay more to register my truck than a car would cost, and I pay 2-3x as much in gas tax because I fill up more than a Hybrid or fuel efficient car would. I do not like being charged by the mile, and gps tech in my vehicle. Give me a tin foil hat and an old car.
 
our government is retarded.


nope, nothing else. thats all there really is to say.
 
This won't pass, because any congressman or senator that backed it would never get re-elected.

Hey Gov, how bout you fix the shitty infrastructure of the nations highways and useless spending on transport projects before you start coming up with new ways to make more money?

Oh, wait - we live in the USA.
 
This would screw everyone in Texas... I drive about 50-60k per year.
 
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