Obama administration floats draft plan to tax cars by the mile

[NHSparky]

Not only that, but rental companies are already charging $9/gal of gas for the cars.

Yes, but only the stupid people.

[Evil_Conservative]

Not only that, but rental companies are already charging $9/gal of gas for the cars.

Yeah, if you don't return the car with a full tank of gas. 

[Doc]

Doc, I completely agree, but 'Stroke of the pen/law of the land,' they can just as easily make tampering with the EPROMs a felony, and/or mandate their replacement with non-erasable ROM chips despite the cost and inefficiency (After all, it'll be the car buyers paying for it and 'It's for the greater good').  A few busts and prosecutions on that will intimidate 95% into compliance IF this crazy shit ever gets to become law in the first place.

True to the extent that it can be mandated for newly manufactured vehicles......however, they compromise less than ten percent of the fleet on any average year.  The problem gets testy when they attempt to mandate an expensive "tax box" on non-current year units........I suspect that the political cost would be immense for Obama, and then there is his problem convincing Bobo the hobo that she has to pop for $500 to retrofit her 86 Buick.....tough sell......might cost him the "homeless vote".  How could his reelection campaign withstand her endless tirades on DU that "Obama hates poor people"?!?

Further, it's already a felony to tamper with the mileage on a vehicle, but it happens all the time, and has been for decades (it's also impossible to prove in court, unless they actually catch someone in the act).......there is an entire industry built around it.

I'm still not buying the viability of this idea.....why not just increase the Federal gasoline tax......same result, zero hardware costs.

doc

[Gratiot]

Further, it's already a felony to tamper with the mileage on a vehicle, but it happens all the time, and has been for decades (it's also impossible to prove in court, unless they actually catch someone in the act).......there is an entire industry built around it.

I'm still not buying the viability of this idea.....why not just increase the Federal gasoline tax......same result, zero hardware costs.

People seem to be missing or intentionally ignoring:

“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.”

Vehicle taxation by the mile has been spoken of for years now, with thankfully, no success.  As you've mentioned, it would be a significant logistical hurdle.  As well as easily bypassed, just as... well... be hesitant, if you're considering the purchase of a lease turn-in vehicle

[Gratiot]

I'm still not buying the viability of this idea.....why not just increase the Federal gasoline tax......same result, zero hardware costs.

Awhile back, technology viability studies were performed:

Vehicle Mile Tax Feasibility Study

I'm in agreement with you though, on it just being illogical too prefer Vehicle Milage Taxation over raising the Federal Fuel Excise Tax.  If additional funding is needed for our highway system.

[Gratiot]

Let's forget about our own personal cars for a moment and think of rental cars.  If any of you have rented a car at an airport location recently, you will see the ridiculous taxes the companies are forced to make you pay.  Here in Las Vegas, we have an airport between 10-12% (maybe more, but cannot recall off the top of my head), CFC tax for 10%, ON TOP of state taxes.

As a Nevada and Vegas resident, I would think you'd be in love with the idea of passing off taxes from your family to us, mere tourists and visitors.

[Evil_Conservative]

As a Nevada and Vegas resident, I would think you'd be in love with the idea of passing off taxes from your family to us, mere tourists and visitors.

No, I am not.

Las Vegas residents wouldn't pay for any such VMT on a rental car if it were to pass.  That's up to the rental agency to add onto the bill.  That has nothing to do with residents at all, unless the locals here rent a car.

If you pass the taxes onto the tourists, less tourists come out to visit.  We already have way too few people out here.

Some dummies wanted to open a sports arena and try to get a professional team in Las Vegas.  They planned to tack the taxes onto hotel room rates and make the tourists pay for the stadium.  Not many residents (including our household) want that sports arena, so that's why these stadium people want to tax the tourists.  Why would a tourist who comes here one a year, or maybe only once in a lifetime, want to pay for it?  If you have ever been to Las Vegas, you know the resort fee/tax is high enough already.  No need to raise it even more.

Most residents of Las Vegas want the tourists to spend less in taxes so they can spend more in the casinos.  It helps keep more jobs.  We are really hurting in unemployment still.

That's just my two cents. 

[NHSparky]

Amen.  $39/night hotel rooms suddenly become $100-plus when you tack on all the shit on top of it.

[DumbAss Tanker]

Alternatively, of course, they could slap a 300% surtax on tires.  Internal combution, steam, electric, mo-ped - eventually everyone has to replace the tires, and wear on the tires is totally proportional to the vehicle's wear and tear inflicted on the road.

[Gratiot]

No, I am not.

Las Vegas residents wouldn't pay for any such VMT on a rental car if it were to pass.  That's up to the rental agency to add onto the bill.  That has nothing to do with residents at all, unless the locals here rent a car.

If you pass the taxes onto the tourists, less tourists come out to visit.  We already have way too few people out here.

Some dummies wanted to open a sports arena and try to get a professional team in Las Vegas.  They planned to tack the taxes onto hotel room rates and make the tourists pay for the stadium.  Not many residents (including our household) want that sports arena, so that's why these stadium people want to tax the tourists.  Why would a tourist who comes here one a year, or maybe only once in a lifetime, want to pay for it?  If you have ever been to Las Vegas, you know the resort fee/tax is high enough already.  No need to raise it even more.

What I meant to imply was, a tax on tourists is a common means of generating revenue for the state or local community without increasing the taxes on the resident population.  It's one of the reasons that you're enjoying the benefits of no state income tax.  Of course, it is a balancing act, of not taxing the tourists to the point that you're keeping them away.

Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for large metropolitan stadiums and civic centers to partially be financed by tourism taxes.  It's too easy for developers and politicians to view that as free revenue.

[Evil_Conservative]

What I meant to imply was, a tax on tourists is a common means of generating revenue for the state or local community without increasing the taxes on the resident population.  It's one of the reasons that you're enjoying the benefits of no state income tax.  Of course, it is a balancing act, of not taxing the tourists to the point that you're keeping them away.

Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for large metropolitan stadiums and civic centers to partially be financed by tourism taxes.  It's too easy for developers and politicians to view that as free revenue.

I get where you are coming from, but the tourists are taxed enough already.  Las Vegas needs to give them a break so we can get more foot traffic.

The Sahara is closing its doors on May 16.  We are losing a historic casino/hotel next Monday.  It's a real shame.

[Janice]

Alternatively, of course, they could slap a 300% surtax on tires.  Internal combution, steam, electric, mo-ped - eventually everyone has to replace the tires, and wear on the tires is totally proportional to the vehicle's wear and tear inflicted on the road.

The Stinky Administration has already started a trade war kinda thing against China for their cheap tires ( a few months back). Its just a matter of time (when current inventories run out) before we see the impact here. But it is coming ...

We are so fortunate to have such a brave Stinky running the country now, arent we?

 

[IassaFTots]

Alternatively, of course, they could slap a 300% surtax on tires.  Internal combution, steam, electric, mo-ped - eventually everyone has to replace the tires, and wear on the tires is totally proportional to the vehicle's wear and tear inflicted on the road.

Psssst.  Hush up Man.   That one makes sense. 

[Janice]

US tyre duties spark China clash
September 13 2009

A full-blown trade row erupted between the US and China after Beijing accused Washington of “rampant protectionism” for imposing heavy duties on imported Chinese tyres and threatened action against imports of US poultry and vehicles.

Trade relations between two of the world’s biggest economies deteriorated after Barack Obama, US president, signed an order late on Friday to impose a new duty of 35 per cent on Chinese tyre imports on top of an existing 4 per cent tariff.

In his first big test on world trade since taking office in January, Mr Obama sided with America’s trade unions, which have complained >>>

Eswar Prasad, professor of trade economics at Cornell University, warned that the disagreement could escalate. “These protectionist measures, some of which amount to domestic political posturing rather than substantive restraints on trade, could easily ratchet up into a full-blown trade war and inflict serious economic damage on both countries,” he said.

=============================================

Stinky sides with the Unions against America. Imagine that?

[TVDOC]

US tyre duties spark China clash
September 13 2009

A full-blown trade row erupted between the US and China after Beijing accused Washington of “rampant protectionism” for imposing heavy duties on imported Chinese tyres and threatened action against imports of US poultry and vehicles.

Trade relations between two of the world’s biggest economies deteriorated after Barack Obama, US president, signed an order late on Friday to impose a new duty of 35 per cent on Chinese tyre imports on top of an existing 4 per cent tariff.

In his first big test on world trade since taking office in January, Mr Obama sided with America’s trade unions, which have complained >>>

Eswar Prasad, professor of trade economics at Cornell University, warned that the disagreement could escalate. “These protectionist measures, some of which amount to domestic political posturing rather than substantive restraints on trade, could easily ratchet up into a full-blown trade war and inflict serious economic damage on both countries,” he said.

=============================================

Stinky sides with the Unions against America. Imagine that?

Good catch Janice.........you DO know that we have at least one member of this board, and three potential Republican presidential candidates (so far) that think this kiind of action is just peachy.......

Providing American industry with a relatively level playing field on world markets is one thing........protecting bloated union wages and benefit packages is unfortunately not a recipe for a strong economy here.

Along the same lines in local labor news......the NLRB (dominated by Obama's union appointees), is threatening action against Boeing for moving a manufacturing plant from (heavily unionized) Seattle.....to N. Charleston, SC (a "right to work" state).  I'm curious if Trump, Ron Paul, et al, think this is a good idea as well?!?

doc

[DumbAss Tanker]

An escalating cycle of reciprocal protectionist tariffs is probably the quickest proven way to move from economic doldrums or recession into meltdown.

[Lacarnut]

I bought Goodyear tires for my sports car over a year ago. I made sure they were made in the USA because the ones made in China were inferior and were having blowouts. Crap like this should be tested by our government. Just wait till China starts importing those death trap cars here.

[DefiantSix]

An escalating cycle of reciprocal protectionist tariffs is probably the quickest proven way to move from economic doldrums or recession into meltdown.

Which has to be why pResident Soetoro is resorting to a pissing contest with the nation that holds the majority of our government debt now.  He expected to have turned America into a shambling basket case by now; complete with bread lines, food riots, military civilian national security forces on every street corner and the people turning to Big Brotha for (social) justice by now.  He has to put the pedal to the metal immediately, if he expects to have any hopes of "rebuilding America from the ground up" in 2012 or later.

[Janice]

Which has to be why pResident Soetoro is resorting to a pissing contest with the nation that holds the majority of our government debt now.  He expected to have turned America into a shambling basket case by now; complete with bread lines, food riots, military civilian national security forces on every street corner and the people turning to Big Brotha for (social) justice by now.  He has to put the pedal to the metal immediately, if he expects to have any hopes of "rebuilding America from the ground up" in 2012 or later.

Sorry to say, thats about how I view it too.