Gas Tax vs. Vehicle Milage Tax

[Brian Minkin]

Gas Tax vs. Vehicle Milage Tax

 

Here is a current topic being discussed in congress that impacts us all.  What do you think?  Good or bad change?

[cjbcpa]

None of the above. I'm generally against domestic agenda driven tax policy (and giving the gov't any more of my money to squander.)

Until the implosion of the automobile industry, I would have preferred an automobile transfer tax based upon the EPA mileage (and maybe age) of the vehicle. We've made our bed so to speak and imposing a gas or mileage tax turns the rules upside down on the masses who have done exactly what our prior policies encourage; moving to the suburbs and enduring long commutes. Let's eliminate the mortgage interest deduction to prevent the masses from buying homes they can't afford (whoops, too late on that one too.)

Until our mass transit infrastructure provides a genuine alternative, gas or mileage taxes would be more regressive than helpful for lower income workers with no other choices. I'd support borrowing to put the system in place and then imposing the tax to pay for it. It's a tough chicken and egg problem no doubt.

BTW, if one of these were to come to pass, I'd convert my TDI and start filtering my own WVO in a heartbeat!