AP Interview: Transportation secretary says taxing how much we drive may replace

[Chris_]

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.

 

LINK

Oh, and expect those taxes to increase significantly to pay for the new system needed to collect those taxes.   

[Chris_]

And say goodbye to new car sales, as everyone rushes out to purchase "pre-chip" used cars......

doc

[Chris_]

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.

[Texacon]

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

[NHSparky]

Say goodbye to the Fourth Amendment, ladies and gentlemen.

[Texacon]

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

[Rebel]

All you proles better get used to it.

[Chris_]

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.

[MrsSmith]

Just wait until solar energy becomes popular...they'll tax the amount of sunlight that you receive. 

[Texacon]

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

[Chris_]

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. 

[thundley4]

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.

[docstew]

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?

[DumbAss Tanker]

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.

[Zeus]

Car Pool

[Chris_]

Elections have consequences.

[Chris_]

Elections have consequences.

So do torches and pitchforks.

[Zeus]

Obama throws Transportation Secy nominee's mileage tax plan under bus
By Michelle Malkin 
February 21, 2009 09:51 AM

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

Er, uh, um, not anymore:

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.

[JohnnyReb]

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.

[Chris]

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!)

[Mike220]

Hell, this is just an opening for entrepreneurs. Think of the money you could make in the black market sensor removal business.

[rich_t]

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.

[Zathras]

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.

[NHSparky]

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.

[MrsSmith]

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.