Do you want to know what can kill the bin Laden bump in a New York minute? How about a plan to tax you and every other American by the miles you drive, coming from the Obama administration.
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.
How very efficient! And convenient! But the CBO’s plan overlooks a key fact: We’re already being taxed for every mile we drive, in the form of federal, state and in some cases local gas taxes. This new tax would presumably be overlaid on those taxes, which in some states are already very high. And for the most part, the highest taxed states are in the worse financial shape.
This tax would damage the weak economy, making it more expensive to move goods and get to our jobs, while doing nothing to rein in government spending. And while it’s some comfort to think that this idea would never get past the GOP-controlled House, that might not stop the Regulator in Chief. He’s creative at finding ways around the messiness of the democratic process.
The obvious economic damage this tax would do doesn’t even seem on the administration’s mind:
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.
Update: The Hill has revised and extended its story about this, adding in this denial from the White House that wasn’t in the story when it was originally posted.
“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.”
Good to hear. Now let’s keep an eye on them and make sure they don’t try sneaking it through anyway.
“…could be tracked by installing electronic equipment on each car to determine how many miles were driven…”
Wow. Just wow. “User acceptance” indeed.
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Unclear on the concept of persona freedom, aren’t they?
Just who exactly is going to install the black box on my car?
Without getting shot by me, I mean.
All new cars will come with the black box.
New environmental regulations will ban older cars from being driven in public since they cause global warming. Violation will result in the impounding and destruction of the old car, but you will get a $500 credit on a new GM.
Also, all new cars will be made by GM since other companies will fail the environmental testing. How convenient.
I say they pass it by the Ted White And Blue ( the Nuge). Ted should sit in on the study framework commission hearings. I want to see how he answers them when they ask him what he thinks of the tax by the miles plan.
Yah! I’d really like to see that. Where do i get in line for tickets to that meeting.
All must see Ted on Pajamas Media Tv.
Obie et al are already taxing us for every mile, as you point out, and in our state gas has hit all-time record highs.
I predict we’re only days away from Obie proudly proclaiming, “This is how we Win the Future!” Which my brain will promptly translate into, “WTF?!”
Sounds like a plan Mr. Obama. Tax the middle class who overwhelmingly drive to work and redistribute it to your ghetto base.
Obama redefining the “rich” he wishes to tax downward to be everybody who can still pay for gas instead of stealing it.
‘field tests should begin within four years’
http://www.obamaclock.org/
He’s running out of time. Thankfully.
Some states are considering this same thing. Their concern is that the hybrids and electric cars are skipping the gas taxes at the pump. What bothers me more than the gas tax is the surveillance of my milage and locations of fill-ups. Also, my ten year old Cruiser is mine and I am keeping it with no black boxes-government or insurance company.
Dee has it correct. After states like California, Oregon and Washington discovered that they were collecting less in gas taxes due to citizens buying hybrids, they hit upon the idea of taxing by the mile.
I don’t know if these states have implemented these plans at all.
(“(if you drive a car, car;) – I’ll tax the street;
… (if you take a walk, walk;) – I’ll tax your feet. )
Actually, it’s not so much that American are “addicted” to oil, but that politicians are addicted to gas taxes.
Here’s an idea; get rid of the gas tax and then tax my mileage. Of course, according to the little black box hanging on the wall in my garage I never go anywhere.
The article is misleading. The proposed bill would only be actuated in metropolitan area larger than 1 million people to reduce traffic congestion during rush hours. It is an old economic principle that precedes many administrations. Besides, it will probably never see the light of day, because the study phase alone will take six years to complete. Please, let’s stop the paranoia and stick to the facts. That is what true journalism is about.
Thanks for bringing some intelligence to the conversation.