Washington – 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.
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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.
“We should look at the vehicular miles program where people are actually clocked on the number of miles that they traveled,” the former Illinois Republican lawmaker said.
Most transportation experts see a vehicle miles traveled tax as a long-term solution, but Congress is being urged to move in that direction now by funding pilot projects.
The idea also is gaining ground in several states. Governors in Idaho and Rhode Island are talking about such programs, and a North Carolina panel suggested in December the state start charging motorists a quarter-cent for every mile as a substitute for the gas tax.
A tentative plan in Massachusetts to use GPS chips in vehicles to charge motorists by the mile has drawn complaints from drivers who say it’s an Orwellian intrusion by government into the lives of citizens. Other motorists say it eliminates an incentive to drive more fuel-efficient cars since gas guzzlers will be taxed at the same rate as fuel sippers.
Folks, I’m telling you we need to wake up and start screaming at Washington so we can get back our government. This is supposed to be a “government for the people and by the people” however it has been hijacked by the extremely far left with ideas that are more in line with China, Russia, France, etc.
These crazy Liberals are destroying this country with out of control taxes and spending.
We must vote Conservative contstitutional candidates into office before the liberals enslave us.
They are being driven around in gov’t cars while they try to gain support for this genaivah. This administration is out of touch with America and in touch with castro and chavez. Remember Obama’s first international phone call in office?! Clear indicator of everything to come.
IT IS ILLEGAL TO TURN BACK THE ODOMETER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
#1, I feel your hurt but we are in trouble.
I hope that all of you understand that Secretary of Transportation is a Republican.
You are all too late. The end is near. The fifth column is entrenched. Read Roman history, read European history. Santana’s dictum – those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
To all you liberal Jews who voted for Mr. Obama, this is just the harbinger of things to come in the new United Socialist States of America. Thank you to all who had the foresight to vote for “that one over there” as John McCain once put it, who will lead us down the path of destruction of this Democratic country. And don’t dare complain when you see government intrude on your privacy, its coming. You wanted it and now you are going to get it with full force.
#2 your hate to liberals blinds you that you didnt even read the article this plan comes from a republican conservative and is being considered in 3 republican states
I don’t know what all the kvetching is about. This is the most economically efficient and equitable way of taxing people to pay for the road construction and repair as well as to reduce auto emissions and greenhouse gas production. It shows real political courage by the new administration and they should be commended for their bold proposal. Newt Gingrich proposed a similiar idea when he was the House majority leader nearly 20 years ago and it should have widespread support (except of course from grubbe yidden who never want to pay taxes or share the burdens of government equitably).
This wouldn’t matter unless we actually started getting fuel efficient cars, which I’d welcome.
FYI because no one will get the joke: The odometer in the picture shows 13337, aka 1337 aka “leet” aka elite, an internet meme.
This is actually an excellent idea. The ranting of you pro-car folks is quite amusing, if completely ill-informed.
Yes and No!
The idea is kind of fair, similar to the current plan of paying tax on fuel used. It actually removes the incentive to use more efficient cars( they save fuel costs which used to also include fuel tax).
NO, road damage is directly related to the weight of the vehicle or weighyt per axle. If hummers and mini cars pay the same per mile it is wrong.
PS: The insurance companies are dying to get a plan like this, they will then charge insurance by the mile driven.
most of u miss the issue entirely. It is not about taxation, it is about government intrusion into our private lives!! I can’t believe it is even being floated! Orwellian indeed!
This plan was already mentioned about a year ago or more in the UK, that this system of taxation should replace the current Road Tax Disk one must display on the car.