AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace gasoline tax -- Newsday.comSeems to me a gasoline tax is directly related to how many miles you drive. The more you drive, the more gas you use, right? So the more tax you pay. Simple, effective, and already implemented...WASHINGTON (AP) — Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood says he wants to consider taxing motorists based on how many miles they drive rather than how much gasoline they burn — an idea that has angered drivers in some states where it has been proposed.
Gasoline taxes that for nearly half a century have paid for the federal share of highway and bridge construction can no longer be counted on to raise enough money to keep the nation's transportation system moving, LaHood said in an interview with The Associated Press.
But there's the rub - it's SIMPLE.
Just because something is possible - installing a GPS tracking system on EVERY vehicle, and tracking their mileage... including whether its on highways, secondary roads and the time of day - doesn't mean it's the RIGHT solution or the way to go. And we won't even talk about the expansion of bureaucracy that'll be needed to IMPLEMENT this....
Oh, wait. I'm looking at THAT like it's a BAD thing, aren't I?
Well, in 2008 the electorate voted for 'change'. Looks like you'll be lucky to be left with THAT by the time Washington's finished with us.
J.
Comments (4)
>>The more you drive, the more gas you use, right?>>
Well, not necessarily. The question here is what is the purpose of the tax. Is it solely to raise money (which is probable) or is it - at least partially - a means of reducing emissions. If the former, then this works. It has nothing to do with the gas you use - it becomes a user tax based on the cost of building and maintaining roads. More miles, more use, more tax. The gas tax originally had nothing to do with emissions, but was also a user tax of sorts. Today, there's a tremendous difference among vehicles when it comes to mileage - the 20 wheeler shouldn't be paying the same tax as the mini-coop (or whatever those silly little boxes are) and a motorcycle. My guess is that they will also modify for gas mileage per mile per mile driven, but so far that isn't included.
If it _is_ included - then you're right...the bureaucracy increase is the
purpose of the bill. The gas tax on sales is actually pretty efficient - it's determined by the gas efficiency of the vehicle plus the miles driven.
Truth is, they're trying to get blood from a stone.
Posted by suek | February 20, 2009 11:22 AM
Posted on February 20, 2009 11:22
Won't stop 'em from squeezing, though... will it?
J.
Posted by JLawson | February 20, 2009 11:30 AM
Posted on February 20, 2009 11:30
What you want to bet they'll end up with both; a miles driven tax to pay for highway improvements and a gasoline tax to pay for the damage green house emissions do to the environment.
otpu
Posted by otpu | February 20, 2009 12:24 PM
Posted on February 20, 2009 12:24
It'll end up like cigarettes - massively taxed to pay for the health care of those who used to smoke - and then they have to keep raising the tax because fewer and fewer people are picking up the habit and revenues keep falling...
J.
Posted by JLawson | February 20, 2009 8:11 PM
Posted on February 20, 2009 20:11