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Author	Topic: Why Americans will soon pay more to drive every mile	Post a Reply Back to Topics

Blackice Champion Author Twin Cities Posts:4,450 Points:1,212,160 Joined:Oct 2003	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 4:43:34 PM Ignore Blackice Report Abuse The financial lookouts who toil in America's transportation departments have been waving red flags for years that there wasn't enough money to keep the nation's 4 million miles of roads and bridges drivable. Now the federal government's top accountant has told Congress it should experiment with taxing drivers by the mile to make up billions of dollars in shortfalls. The debate isn't whether you'll pay more to drive in the future, but how you'll pay — and how much.For decades, federal and state governments have relied on gasoline and diesel taxes to pay for road building and maintenance. By one industry group estimate, the nation needs a minimum of $123 billion a year just to resurface roads and shore up the bridges it has, let alone build anything new. Visit Yahoo for full article

Blackice

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Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 4:43:34 PM

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The financial lookouts who toil in America's transportation departments have been waving red flags for years that there wasn't enough money to keep the nation's 4 million miles of roads and bridges drivable. Now the federal government's top accountant has told Congress it should experiment with taxing drivers by the mile to make up billions of dollars in shortfalls. The debate isn't whether you'll pay more to drive in the future, but how you'll pay — and how much.For decades, federal and state governments have relied on gasoline and diesel taxes to pay for road building and maintenance. By one industry group estimate, the nation needs a minimum of $123 billion a year just to resurface roads and shore up the bridges it has, let alone build anything new.

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bwatchingu Champion Author Arkansas Posts:1,740 Points:601,520 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 9:12:43 AM Ignore bwatchingu Report Abuse Taxes are taxing me.
leeac Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,596 Points:433,905 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 7:49:07 AM Ignore leeac Report Abuse Roads are an important part of our common wealth. Everyone should pay for them but bigger and heavier cars and trucks should pay more.
Billrusty All-Star Author Washington Posts:842 Points:157,985 Joined:Nov 2012	Message Posted: Jan 13, 2013 3:33:47 AM Ignore Billrusty Report Abuse the government needs to be fiscally prudent.they should not just increase taxes whenever they see a shortfall but some leader should be made to give up their seat for not being on the ball with tax payers money.
schatzila Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:4,949 Points:1,016,620 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 5:52:55 PM Ignore schatzila Report Abuse Everything today is going to cost more.
MAC48 Champion Author Dallas Posts:1,547 Points:766,090 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 5:50:15 PM Ignore MAC48 Report Abuse If the law was changed to require that 100% of all motor vehicle fuel taxes raised by both the Federal and state taxing authorities could only be used for highways, roads, road bridges and other directly related highway infrastructure and added an annual inflation adjusted fee for all EVs of $200 and $100 for all hybrids, one could support a 1/3 increase in the motor vehicle fuel tax rate. This would mean that absolutely no rEVenue raised from motor vehicle fuel taxes or from EV and hybrid annual road use fees could EVer be used for biking, walking, airport, seaport, rail, bus or any other non-motor vehicle highway or road projects at the Federal or state lEVels.
bston Champion Author Oklahoma City Posts:1,820 Points:642,275 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 3:02:53 PM Ignore bston Report Abuse Just another ploy to get more money out of us!
eschroth442 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:1,079 Points:332,745 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 11:59:18 AM Ignore eschroth442 Report Abuse oh don't worry, they won't change the gas tax, they will just add this additional one. And too do it they will add some kind of sensor "big brother" to the car that we will have to pay for!!!
bigt61 All-Star Author Virginia Posts:652 Points:203,090 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 9:00:43 AM Ignore bigt61 Report Abuse Just raise the gas tax. It utilizes a system already in place and accomplishes the objective. To set up a whole new complicated bureaucracy tracking peoples miles is insanity. Another step towards the government watching your every move. Can we please remove the nanny state liberals(Democrats) at the next election. Support libertarian candidates, they're our only hope.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,550 Points:748,045 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 8:47:38 AM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse need to get rid of gas tax if they go to a per mile tax, plus allow lighter vehicles to be charged less since they do less damage to the road.
MadFueler All-Star Author Winston-Salem Posts:922 Points:172,510 Joined:Sep 2012	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 7:47:24 AM Ignore MadFueler Report Abuse Yes, we do need to fund highway maintenance and construction as fuel tax revenue per capita dries up - but there are a lot of cross-currents going on as to what's simple, what's fair, and what's effective. SUPERSTEVIO: "seems it is a real can of worms and will create a lot of controversy on how it will be applied" jimgraham: "What happens when people quit driving with their speedometer connected?" Yes - the special gas pumps talked about in the article would take a while to get going, and an electronic device would seem to "big brother" to most folks, even if used in the way described. On the other hand, just using the odometer would invite rollback schemes on a scale usually only seen in dishonest used car lots. voyagerkim: "Penalize people for going green - now that's a major double standard." I don't think it's a penalty, just a fee that the road user isn't otherwise paying for a service that they're using. A penalty would be in the high hundreds or thousands.
Nancy&Len Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,053 Points:1,945,815 Joined:Sep 2004	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 7:35:11 AM Ignore Nancy&Len Report Abuse The reason we have highway funding problems is they take part of the money they already receive and use it on social welfare programs ( food stamps, cell phones internet ......)
SUPERSTEVIEO Champion Author Quebec Posts:3,523 Points:787,115 Joined:Oct 2010	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 7:10:51 AM Ignore SUPERSTEVIEO Report Abuse this will be interesting to follow... seems it is a real can of worms and will create a lot of controversy on how it will be applied... no matter how it ends up being charged.
leeac Champion Author Ohio Posts:1,596 Points:433,905 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 5:04:53 AM Ignore leeac Report Abuse Our highway system is part of our "common wealth" because it benefits everyone. Everyone should help pay the costs of our roads but larger and heavier cars and trucks should pay more.
evowner Champion Author Salem Posts:2,182 Points:359,260 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 4:48:11 AM Ignore evowner Report Abuse Lack of highway funding coordinates with with the tax reductions to the rich.
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,507 Points:603,450 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 2:56:44 AM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse economic progress needs infrastructure.
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 1:45:21 AM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse Only half of the Americans will pay more the other half depends on Obama Care for their substance.
Palantas All-Star Author Indianapolis Posts:803 Points:413,845 Joined:Sep 2011	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 1:36:55 AM Ignore Palantas Report Abuse Weak.
MrLefty0706 Champion Author Chicago Posts:1,444 Points:351,085 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 1:04:55 AM Ignore MrLefty0706 Report Abuse Not good news!
kkimes Champion Author Illinois Posts:1,601 Points:1,506,310 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 12:54:09 AM Ignore kkimes Report Abuse Notice they didn't say tax drivers by the mile instead of by the gallon. He said tax drivers by the mile to make up for the shortfalls. That means we will probably eventually get taxed both ways.
BEGTWO Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,942 Points:723,990 Joined:Sep 2010	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 12:20:31 AM Ignore BEGTWO Report Abuse Not Good
cheap59 Champion Author Michigan Posts:4,240 Points:962,270 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: Jan 12, 2013 12:08:13 AM Ignore cheap59 Report Abuse Because thay will tax us to death!
TomT2Lee Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:5,357 Points:1,597,980 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 11:47:04 PM Ignore TomT2Lee Report Abuse I have an experiment for the professional politicians, go pound sand! Until they get their house in order, they need to stop trying to find new ways to rape and pillage tax payers.
amerk73 Champion Author Dallas Posts:7,046 Points:1,621,000 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 11:13:15 PM Ignore amerk73 Report Abuse not fair
tankumo Veteran Author Vancouver Posts:397 Points:69,760 Joined:Dec 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 11:11:40 PM Ignore tankumo Report Abuse Americans will pay more on everything, not just on driving. We can count on it.
clpassenubye Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:3,359 Points:754,355 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 11:03:01 PM Ignore clpassenubye Report Abuse If this tax comes to fruition without mitigation of the other taxes this will definitely affect driving habits in the U.S.
sillywagon Champion Author New York Posts:14,891 Points:1,441,345 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 10:23:10 PM Ignore sillywagon Report Abuse The answer is telecommuting. No... Politicians and bureaucrats remind me of the Mafia. always have to get their cut, and the %%%% is going up. They will find a way to get their taxpayer paid for slush fund.
jl1rp Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:1,817 Points:357,430 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:33:30 PM Ignore jl1rp Report Abuse I see a big fight on this one.
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,902 Points:648,490 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:33:18 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse Grab your wallets.
SammyAdams Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:3,054 Points:792,745 Joined:Nov 2010	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 9:29:06 PM Ignore SammyAdams Report Abuse To: Peachy1 Re: Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:27:29 PM (Printed below) "Come on people, we don't want this, can't afford any of this BS. They are taking and pocketing all of our $$ for themselves. War time on the way." ============================================================ This is a cruder way of saying what I was just thinking.
MidNJ Champion Author New Jersey Posts:7,554 Points:1,172,595 Joined:Sep 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:56:27 PM Ignore MidNJ Report Abuse Question, will I have to pay by mile tax when I fly my plane to Washington?
Peachy1 All-Star Author St. Louis Posts:774 Points:1,651,215 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:27:29 PM Ignore Peachy1 Report Abuse Come on people, we don't want this, can't afford any of this BS. They are taking and pocketing all of our $$ for themselves. War time on the way.
ddor All-Star Author Michigan Posts:981 Points:238,820 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:17:16 PM Ignore ddor Report Abuse No
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,259 Points:983,085 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:15:46 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse Just stay home.
SilvrSTreak Rookie Author Tampa Posts:23 Points:226,060 Joined:Jul 2003	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 8:10:49 PM Ignore SilvrSTreak Report Abuse What a crock of "BS". IF they ever got around to doing this (and that's only if the "sheeple" support it), then how about issues like - How is the mileage driven tracked? Will HAVE to be with some device on the vehicles - which begs for tampering and thus will be fraught with fraud. Shouldn't lighter vehicles (like Motorcycles - which weigh less, have fewer wheels in contact with the road and thus wear the infrastructure less) pay a lesser fee per mile than cars, and likewise, cars less than trucks? Lastly, what happens when the revenue from it goes down due to people who can't afford it begin to stop driving altogether?
md11capt Champion Author Denver Posts:3,558 Points:710,730 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 7:31:02 PM Ignore md11capt Report Abuse $123 billion is chump change for Donald Trump.
evowner Champion Author Salem Posts:2,182 Points:359,260 Joined:May 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 7:28:24 PM Ignore evowner Report Abuse When the rich paid taxes, we built the interstate system. Now we can't maintain it? We know why.
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,226 Points:2,371,370 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:53:18 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse its never spent on what its intended for, they just dump into "the general fund" thats the real problem
voyagerkim All-Star Author Los Angeles Posts:620 Points:172,260 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:52:12 PM Ignore voyagerkim Report Abuse Wow, a bunch of issues here. . .If we have to pay per mile, will the gas tax be lowered? (Probably not, no one wants to lose money) Taxing electric vehicles for their lack of gas usage? (Penalize people for going green - now that's a major double standard.) In the end we will end up paying for all of this anyways, they are just trying to figure out how best to make us swallow this bitter pill!!!
roadrunnin Champion Author Richmond Posts:1,754 Points:565,135 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:38:35 PM Ignore roadrunnin Report Abuse years of price gouging the government and lack of oversight = crumbling infrastructure
peabeax55 All-Star Author Atlanta Posts:713 Points:185,515 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:30:50 PM Ignore peabeax55 Report Abuse The price of road construction is absurdly high. I agree with others that maybe there needs to be some belt tightening by government before they continue taxing us to death. Fed taxes, state taxes, local taxes, gas taxes, mileage taxes,....etc. doomed to collapse the workers at some point.
mastermariner Champion Author Texas Posts:4,248 Points:493,905 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:26:58 PM Ignore mastermariner Report Abuse Be a boost for public transportation
JDchefF Champion Author Lancaster Posts:1,050 Points:229,245 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:09:40 PM Ignore JDchefF Report Abuse Another way to get more money from people and then misuse it. Need more fiscal responsibility with the money you get now!
BBopp Champion Author Dayton Posts:6,839 Points:1,938,455 Joined:Dec 2006	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:02:30 PM Ignore BBopp Report Abuse Very unfair to tax by the mile driven! If I could work within walking distance to where I live, I would. However, that is not an option.
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,372 Points:1,979,960 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 6:00:01 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse What happens when people quit driving with their speedometer connected?
Zuegma All-Star Author Nova Scotia Posts:988 Points:257,905 Joined:Aug 2012	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:45:10 PM Ignore Zuegma Report Abuse Gee... It could work. But, that's the excuse used in Canada for it's extra taxation of about 40% more than what is paid in the US for gas. Except, those massive income influx just end up is the general income 'piggy bank' used for everything else but what it was intended for. Only the "holy spirit" knows where it evaporated to. And, we also and still have a monumental amount of crumbling infrastructure.
VomVom Champion Author Calgary Posts:3,857 Points:1,627,080 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:45:07 PM Ignore VomVom Report Abuse Someone has to pay for road maintenance and repair and it is not the government. Guess who pays?
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,017 Points:1,188,895 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Jan 11, 2013 5:16:59 PM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse Of course, the best way to fix aging infrasturcture would be getting into motorists' pocket through gas prices.