Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Two years ago, Obama's Secretary for Transportation floated the idea of a "mileage tax" -- in which (and I'm not kidding) citizens are tracked via a GPS system, and then taxed based on their car's mileage.
Two years ago, Obama swatted that idea down.
Now, of course, it seems more attractive. That's the natural result of wasting $1 trillion. Suddenly every revenue idea looks good. Sort of like what I always imagined the Jack in the Box fast food chain slogan should be: "If you're drunk enough, you'll eat it."
If you're broke enough, suddenly it doesn't seem so outlandish to track people in their cars and charge them by the mile. Anything but cut spending.
And now, the idea is back. From The Hill:
The Obama administration has floated a transportation authorization bill that would require the study and implementation of a plan to tax automobile drivers based on how many miles they drive.
The plan is a part of the administration's Transportation Opportunities Act, anundated draft of which was obtained this week by Transportation Weekly.
The White House, however, said the bill is only an early draft that was not formally circulated within the administration.
“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.”
Uh huh. Raising taxes, tracking citizens -- this doesn't sound like him at all. Of course, the Feds can turn everything into a bureaucratic nightmare:
The administration seems to be aware of the need to prepare the public for what would likely be a controversial change to the way highway funds are collected. For example, the office is called on to serve a public-relations function, as the draft says it should "increase public awareness regarding the need for an alternative funding source for surface transportation programs and provide information on possible approaches."
The draft bill says the "study framework" for the project and a public awareness communications plan should be established within two years of creating the office, and that field tests should begin within four years.
There'll be a "study framework" and a "public awareness campaign" and "field tests" and eventually, if they have their way, we'll all be paying more taxes. All of us. And that's the key here, isn't it? Obama needs more money to fund his bloated, expanding, intrusive government. But he's checkmated himself -- he keeps talking about raising taxes on the "millionaires and billionaires," but someone must have shown him the math. There isn't enough money there.
So now he has to go after the "hundred-thousand-aires and thousand-aires" until he hits the near-half of the country that pays no federal tax at all. Which also happens to be his base. So where can he get the money?
New taxes, all over the place. Never mind that we're already taxed by the mile, essentially, when you factor in gas taxes. The plan is to nickel and dime us into penury. Anything to keep the federal beast fat and happy.
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Apr '11
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Thank God only people making more than$250k per year drive!!
Aug '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
What the heck? A gas tax (which we already have) at least marginally rewards those with more fuel-efficient cars. A mileage tax won't.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
I would run TV ads with this all the time until election day and watch the Republican landslide. What a maroon.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Is it just me or has Rob been losing more and more squishiness? Pretty soon you may be a Squish-In-Name-Only...
This is of course terrifying but perhaps the perfect "bridge too far." If we could just get Ezra Klein and Paul Krugman to devote some of their massive intellect to begin explaining to us why this is such a brilliant idea, then perhaps we can begin measuring the drapes in the Oval office.
Jul '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Obama knows that They can "nickel and dime us into penury" and Americans still won't ride a train.
Aug '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
This is one more way Big Brother invades your privacy and intrudes into your life. Each car will have to have a tracking device which can easily be used as a GPS locator. We have fallen very far from the heights of liberty and freedom we once enjoyed. If our leaders and fellow citizens allow this to happen, they will deserve the tyranny that comes.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
On the other hand, it could prove an enormous boon to the struggling Segway market.
Dec '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
I'ma go on record here and say that such a device will never be attached to any car of mine.
I'll take my chances with the Feds.
That right there is the straw for me. The line in the sand.
I seriously doubt it'll make it through the House, but stupider things have been done by the Republicans in the past, so I'm not going to hold my breath.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
This is so depressing, it has wrecked my day.
How is this even CONCEIVABLE in America?!! (My Dutch husband tells me it's already law in The Netherlands.)
I feel myself becoming a misanthropic pessimist about everything.
It's making me think of an Italian priest friend of mine. Whenever I ask him, "How are you?" He says, "I'll be much better when I'm in heaven with Jesus."
Feb '11
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Well, those in fuel-efficient cars are cheating the government out of gas tax, so they should be punished.
While they are at it, they should tax those who don't drive enough. It's like a property tax on undeveloped property based on how much it should be earning.
Jun '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
This idea has had an inevitability to it. As cars improve their gas mileage and if the left's dream that everyone is going to drive an electric car ever gets realized, gas tax revenues go poof. Yet another consequence of democratic policies. They will always want the money.
Feb '11
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Can someone remind me why the Feds can tax your driving miles if you don't leave the state?
And can states tax mileage as well?
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Paying by the mile on The Road to Serfdom.
Mar '11
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
@ Kervinlee
+1
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
iPhones tracking your location and doing nothing with the information: a scandal that requires a stern letter to Apple from Sen. Al Franken.
Government tracking your location and using the information to require a payment which, if not made, will result in fines and/or revocation of driving privileges: something Al Franken would probably vote for.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
Does raising gas taxes require an act of Congress? Please tell me it can't be done by executive fiat.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
The chances that I comply with GPS installation in my car are absolutely zilch. I can say that without equivocation.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
CoolHand: I'ma go on record here and say that such a device will never be attached to any car of mine.
I'll take my chances with the Feds.
That right there is the straw for me. The line in the sand.
I seriously doubt it'll make it through the House, but stupider things have been done by the Republicans in the past, so I'm not going to hold my breath. · May 5 at 9:54am
What makes you think Congress will ever be allowed to be involved? All he has to do is have the EPA or some other unaccountable Fed agency require it of car manufacturers.
May '10
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
How do you think you'll stop it? It'll be built into all new cars, in a way that makes it virtually impossible to disable.
Mar '11
Re: Obama's New Tax: You Pay by the Mile
A GPS has got to have an antenna.
And you can still buy aluminum foil...