Ken Nelson

 
The next way the government will reach into your wallet

Newsday has an article that the new Transportation Secretary thinks we should have to pay for roads by how far we drive on them.  The article doesn’t say why he believes this. I suspect it is because if we move to electric cars, we won’t be buying as much gas and paying as much gas tax.

So is that a good idea?

First… with any new tax, you have to ask “what are the chances they bring back the old tax?”.  In this case I would say “very high”.  They don’t mention, anywhere, taking away the gas tax.  I presume they want users who buy gas to keep paying that + the mileage tax.

Second… why do we need to pay for roads based on gas usage or miles driven?  Aren’t we all essentially equally dependent on a vibrant road system?  Shouldn’t this burden be equally shared and funded by general taxes applicable to everyone?  The gas tax was just a way of hiding the expense of government. Everywhere you go their hands reach in, just not too deep, but the net takings are large.

Third… a mileage tax charges me driving an Excursion the same as you driving a Civic.  I don’t mind that. But the usual suspects who don’t like rewarding rich guys like me might not like that.  So expect a “vehicle multiplier”. And expect that multiplier to be politically manipulated to benefit special constituencies.  Expect a domestic vehicle, or a union built vehicle, or a politically correct vehicle to have a different multiplier.

Fourth… the rates they propose initially seem “not too bad”.  But they will rise dramatically and without end. You know they will.

So, no, I don’t think this is a good idea. I fall back to first principals. We all benefit from the roads, even if we don’t drive a single mile in a year, and we should all share in their cost equally.