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Current Events => Politics => Topic started by: Chris_ on February 20, 2009, 12:02:43 PM

Title: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris_ on February 20, 2009, 12:02:43 PM
Quote
AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace gasoline tax

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.

"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.

*snip*

A blue-ribbon national transportation commission is expected to release a report next week recommending a VMT.

The system would require all cars and trucks be equipped with global satellite positioning technology, a transponder, a clock and other equipment to record how many miles a vehicle was driven, whether it was driven on highways or secondary roads, and even whether it was driven during peak traffic periods or off-peak hours.

Say goodbye to rural living, tourism, and incentives to drive fuel efficient cars.  Say hello to big brotha' (Uncle Zero) tracking your every move.

 :maddernhell:

LINK (http://www.newsday.com/news/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-lahood-vehicle-mileage-tax,0,6754105,print.story)

Oh, and expect those taxes to increase significantly to pay for the new system needed to collect those taxes.   :banghead:
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris_ on February 20, 2009, 12:05:35 PM
And say goodbye to new car sales, as everyone rushes out to purchase "pre-chip" used cars......

doc
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris_ on February 20, 2009, 12:11:14 PM
And say goodbye to new car sales, as everyone rushes out to purchase "pre-chip" used cars......

doc
You'll probably be required to drive a gubmint issued Prius....for which you will pay a huge tax.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Texacon on February 20, 2009, 12:15:53 PM
When I read that I thought "These folks don't live in Texas".  Nope, they have to have quotes from folks in places like Rhode Island!

Bastids.

KC
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: NHSparky on February 20, 2009, 12:21:37 PM
Say goodbye to the Fourth Amendment, ladies and gentlemen.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Texacon on February 20, 2009, 12:24:54 PM
Say goodbye to the Fourth Amendment, ladies and gentlemen.

Yup, probable cause will be - "So, we noticed on the monitor that you were down in the red light district ..... why don't you step out so we can search your car."

KC
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Rebel on February 20, 2009, 01:06:26 PM
All you proles better get used to it.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris_ on February 20, 2009, 02:00:10 PM
You'll probably be required to drive a gubmint issued Prius....for which you will pay a huge tax.

I'll get a horse first.  And train it to take a dump whenever it hears the word Obama.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: MrsSmith on February 20, 2009, 03:18:12 PM
Just wait until solar energy becomes popular...they'll tax the amount of sunlight that you receive. 
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Texacon on February 20, 2009, 03:20:55 PM
Just wait until solar energy becomes popular...they'll tax the amount of sunlight that you receive. 

I don't know if they still do it but North Carolina was taxing folks for how much rain water was diverted from their property due to their homes and driveways.

KC
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris_ on February 20, 2009, 05:01:55 PM
Just wait until solar energy becomes popular...they'll tax the amount of sunlight that you receive. 
They're already working on a way to tax the CO2 you exhale. 
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may rep
Post by: thundley4 on February 20, 2009, 07:03:33 PM
Didn't 0Bama say something in the last week or so, about Americans living to spread out?  This tax would seem like it fits right in with that idea.   Let's put the GPS unit on Air Force 1, Marine 1 and his pimpmobile and have the locations and mileage available online before doing this to everyone else.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may rep
Post by: docstew on February 21, 2009, 07:18:07 AM
Didn't 0Bama say something in the last week or so, about Americans living to spread out?  This tax would seem like it fits right in with that idea.   Let's put the GPS unit on Air Force 1, Marine 1 and his pimpmobile and have the locations and mileage and cost to the taxpayers for the travel available online before doing this to everyone else.

Don't make him pay the tax, just show people how he has freedom of movement on their dime, but they have to pay MORE to go to work...

Who else doubts that they'd do away with the tax on gas if this started?
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: DumbAss Tanker on February 21, 2009, 11:14:53 AM
Certainly would diminish the relative value of cars that get higher gas mileage compared to other vehicles, if distance driven rather than gas consumption becomes the primary means of transportation taxation.  I suppose it would greatly advantage public and commercial transportation, but the effect on personal motor vehicles seems like it would run counter to where you'd expect them to want to go.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Zeus on February 21, 2009, 12:51:43 PM
(http://www.limo-hirelondon.co.uk/images/Triple-Axle-Hummer-H2.jpg)
Car Pool
(http://www.cheaplimohire.com/images/6-wheeler-hummer-limo/6-wheeler-hummer-limo.jpg)
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris_ on February 21, 2009, 12:59:15 PM
Elections have consequences.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris_ on February 21, 2009, 03:39:48 PM
Elections have consequences.

So do torches and pitchforks.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Zeus on February 21, 2009, 04:26:05 PM
Obama throws Transportation Secy nominee's mileage tax plan under bus    (http://michellemalkin.com/2009/02/21/obama-throws-transportation-secy-nominees-mileage-tax-plan-under-bus/)
By Michelle Malkin 
February 21, 2009 09:51 AM

(http://michellemalkin.cachefly.net/michellemalkin.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/1aaaabus.jpg)

Quote
President Obama just recently called GOP Transportation Secretary nominee Ray LaHood one of his “favorite Republicans.”

Er, uh, um, not anymore:

Quote
President Barack Obama on Friday rejected his transportation secretary’s suggestion that the administration consider taxing motorists based on how many miles they drive instead of how much gasoline they buy.

“It is not and will not be the policy of the Obama administration,” White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters, when asked for the president’s thoughts about Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood’s suggestion, raised in an interview with The Associated Press a daily earlier.

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 told the AP.

“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 in the AP interview.
LaHood spokeswoman.
It’s the Emily Litella presidency. All together now: Neeeeeever mind.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: JohnnyReb on February 21, 2009, 05:16:22 PM
What was it? 2 or 3 weeks ago they were talking about adding tax per gallon to gas and diesel.....they're just throwing shit against the wall to see what will stick.... Don't worry, they'll come up with something soon and then we can all worry.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Chris on February 21, 2009, 05:19:57 PM
Will the state be responsible for collecting the tax?  Will we have to register our cars with the federal government?  Do we have to fill out another form with our income taxes?  Just thinking of the bureaucracy required to process a tax like this makes my head hurt (and it pisses me off).

Liberals seem to only be concerned about what goes on in two rooms -- the classroom and the bedroom.  They have no problem poking their noses into your kitchen, your garage, your bathroom (stop wasting water, you!)
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Mike220 on February 21, 2009, 05:35:45 PM
Hell, this is just an opening for entrepreneurs. Think of the money you could make in the black market sensor removal business.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: rich_t on February 21, 2009, 05:47:13 PM
Hell, this is just an opening for entrepreneurs. Think of the money you could make in the black market sensor removal business.

Or a small easy to install/remove short range GPS signal scrambler.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Zathras on February 22, 2009, 03:19:04 PM
Well, if this scheme by The Anointed One's mis-administration does take effect, Americans of all economic means will be hurt as companies that transport goods and services over the road will raise the cost of doing so to counter the tax burden. It might even cause some transport companies to go out of business, leading to further people on unemployment.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: NHSparky on February 22, 2009, 04:01:49 PM
Well, if this scheme by The Anointed One's mis-administration does take effect, Americans of all economic means will be hurt as companies that transport goods and services over the road will raise the cost of doing so to counter the tax burden. It might even cause some transport companies to go out of business, leading to further people on unemployment.

Or just one HELL of a black market for jammers or other devices to show fewer miles driven.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: MrsSmith on February 22, 2009, 05:04:36 PM
Well, if this scheme by The Anointed One's mis-administration does take effect, Americans of all economic means will be hurt as companies that transport goods and services over the road will raise the cost of doing so to counter the tax burden. It might even cause some transport companies to go out of business, leading to further people on unemployment.
We both live 40 miles from work...(80 miles apart was the closest we could get our jobs).  With all that's been suggested, we'd be better off quitting both jobs and letting Pres. Obama pick up the tab for our mortgage and living expenses. 
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Thor on February 22, 2009, 05:08:01 PM
Ya know, I was thinking........ they already tax us on how much we drive. The more we drive, the more gasoline we use. The larger the vehicle, the more gasoline we use. There are road taxes already built into the resale price of gasoline. Maybe the .gov should have an extra special tax for electric/ hybrid vehicles and leave us with our gas guzzlers alone.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Mike220 on February 22, 2009, 05:08:38 PM
We both live 40 miles from work...(80 miles apart was the closest we could get our jobs).  With all that's been suggested, we'd be better off quitting both jobs and letting Pres. Obama pick up the tab for our mortgage and living expenses. 

You could always just ride your free pony to work.
Title: Re: AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace
Post by: Zathras on February 22, 2009, 05:33:02 PM
You could always just ride your free pony to work.

Wouldn't work for me. The free pony I want from the government is this one:

(http://cache.jalopnik.com/cars/images/ford_mustang_pony.jpg)