Fuel Efficiency Latest Excuse For New Tax

…drive more miles and use less gas, then they tax miles.

As fuel efficiency rises and gasoline consumption falls as people conserve, bureaucrats are grasping at anything they can to keep their entitled status afloat no matter the costs.

Oregon is among a growing number of states trying to find ways to tax drivers based on the number of miles driven instead of how much gas or diesel fuel is used, even going so far as to install GPS monitoring devices in 300 vehicles to test their scheme. The idea first emerged nearly 10 years ago as Oregon lawmakers worried that fuel-efficient cars such as gas-electric hybrids could pose a threat to their take.

The scheme is not without critics, including drivers who are concerned about privacy and others who fear the tax could eliminate the financial incentive for buying efficient vehicles. They all so point out that fuel tax revenues have consistently been raided rather than used for street, roads, highway, bridges and such as intended.

Oregon is ahead of the nation in exploring the idea, even though it will probably be years before any mileage tax is adopted. Some worry that even the federal ‘bailout' loans could be used to force automakers to install tracking devices in cars and trucks.

Congress is talking about it, too. A congressional commission has envisioned a system similar to the prototype Oregon is testing. The National Commission on Surface Transportation Infrastructure Financing (NCSTIF) is considering calling for higher gas taxes it says to keep highways, bridges and transit programs in good shape something we've been repeatedly told before.

Over the long term, commission members say, the nation should consider taxing mileage as drivers use more fuel-efficient and electric vehicles. Long haul trucks already face a version of this sort of use taxes - you often see plaques on commercial vehicles whining about how much they pay.

As cars burn less fuel, "the gas tax isn't going to fill the bill," said Rep. Peter DeFazio of Oregon, a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. He think the next Congress "could begin to set the stage, perhaps looking at some much more robust pilot programs, to begin the research, to work with manufacturers."

The bottom line is Americans are about to be punished for buying more fuel efficient vehicles so Congress and an assortment of nincompoops in various state capitols want to punish them for doing so. So forget your scooter that gets 80 MPG or even your bicycle these nitwits want to tax you anyway. Next could be an ankle pedometer that will report your steps and will get a bill. Cute.

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