A White House spokeswoman told The Hill newspaper that the draft "does not represent the views of the president" and is in no way an administration proposal
The White House put the brakes on a similar proposal floated early in Obama's presidency, with then-spokesman Robert Gibbs said that a mileage tax "is not and will not be the policy of the Obama administration."
That didn't stop operatives at the National Republican Congressional Committee from asking in a press release Thursday whether Democratic House members will support "President Obama’s new driving tax."
Obama is smart enough to know that we ignorant peasants will have to let the nasty healthcare bill digest before we get fed another costly and bad idea....the election if coming, the election is coming!
The left is angry because they are now being judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin.
AspenValley wrote: Guess I don't see what's different about this from a gasoline tax?
Taxing by the mile is similar to the gas tax, but it more accurately tracks just how much you use the public roads. High miles per gallon cars pay less gas tax than low mileage cars for the same miles driven. So taxing by the mile is in effect a tax on high mileage cars, which seems counter to what you'd want to do.
They could also raise the gas tax, but with gas prices near $4/gallon, that wouldn't help you get reelected.
This assumes you drive mostly on pavement. Think of the framers who traverse many miles of dirt road in the midwest or in places like Wyoming, Montana. There are many major problems with implementing such a tax, Personally, I hat it. I hate all forms of indirect taxation. WIth all the bitching an moaning going on about who is and is not paying enough taxes, I'd love to see an end to the current BS of a taxation system. Tax all of us 35% of our earnings, top hiding taxes on every conceivable commodity and let us see exactly how much you are taking out of our paychecks. Likely, we'd pay closer to 50% if we eliminated all other forms of taxation. I know it's a pipe dream.
WAKE-UP! FOLKS!!! Is Obama Going to Tax Drivers?
May 10, 2011
Q: Does President Barack Obama support taxing motorists based on the number of miles they drive?
A: No. But it is one idea being studied as a way to replace the federal gasoline tax.
FULL QUESTION
Is this true? Just received today from Newsmax.
White House Wants to Track and Tax Your Mileage
Read more on Newsmax.com: White House Wants to Track and Tax Your Mileage
FULL ANSWER
The idea of taxing motorists based on the number of miles they drive — known as a vehicle miles traveled (VMT) tax or fee — has been a matter of policy discussion in Washington for several years. The Obama administration has yet to endorse it, but the Department of Transportation has requested $20 million in next year’s budget to establish the Surface Transportation Revenue Alternatives Office. The office, which would be located within the Federal Highway Administration, would look at a "range of revenue-generation alternatives," not just a tax on miles traveled.
FHWA website: The proposed office will lead a phased research and demonstration effort to analyze a range of revenue-generation alternatives with the potential to replace the petroleum-based system currently used to fund surface transportation programs.
Although there are other financing schemes, such as expanding toll roads and bridges, the VMT has gotten the most attention, because policy experts consider it to be the most reliable funding source for future highway projects. Why? The number of vehicle miles traveled increases at a faster rate than the consumption of gasoline, because of the introduction of more fuel-efficient cars. Transportation policy experts are concerned that taxes on fuel are not keeping pace with the demand for surface transportation projects, and there is not the political will to raise the gasoline tax.
A 2006 report commissioned by the federal Department of Transportation called a mileage tax "the most promising technique for directly assessing road users for the costs of individual trips within a comprehensive fee scheme that will generate revenue to cover the costs of highway programs."
The fact remains, though, that the administration has taken a step toward creating this office, and the vehicle miles traveled tax is the policy option preferred by the experts. So this won’t be the last we hear of this. But at least you now have the facts.
–Eugene Kiely
http://factcheck.org/2011/05/is-obama-going-to-tax-drivers/
AspenValley wrote: Guess I don't see what's different about this from a gasoline tax?
My first thought as well-What do these nitwits think a gas tax is? It would actually be much better for these no dick office working "guys" driving around in these massive trucks.
Hey RD FARMERS (not framers lol ) do not pay the same tax on fuel that road vehicles pay. Farm diesel and gas is alot less however they cannot use the farm fuel for hwy use.
If this actually happens, law enforcement should love it! Makes it easier to find cars, and watch for daily fees for visiting urban areas like London does now. And should encourage more telecommuting and bus ridership.
Thomas Sowell: There are no solutions, just trade-offs.
Nice job of cherry-picking that factcheck article, tpp. Anyone who wants the "full answer" would do well to actually read it at the link.
