Perry by the mile Tax for every mile you drive?

[white cloud]

Just when you think the world has gone mad, it gets even worse!

The idea of taxing motorists for every mile they drive is certainly not new, but it's getting closer to becoming reality with the announcement that the Transportation Commission (appointed by Governor Rick Perry) has commissioned a study of the viability of such a taxing scheme. This "study" will be presented to the lawmakers for its consideration in the 2011 legislative session.

So far, the reaction among the grassroots and talk radio pundits seems to be a unanimous "No way!" No one wants big daddy government taking up residence in their personal vehicle and monitoring every mile they drive, nor does going from paying a tax by the GALLON to paying a tax for every MILE sound like a good deal for the taxpayers.

Though there are ways to track mileage without satellite tags or black boxes placed in your car, like odometer readings, those methods are rife with problems, like being charged for out of state driving (with "deductions" for out of state driving likely being self-reported/recorded, which is ripe for such abuses, and others, like a motorist modifying his/her odometer reading to pay less tax).
http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-17954-San-Antonio-Transportation-Policy-Examiner~y2010m1d5-Tax-for-every-mile-you-drive

[hobbit709]

1. That will make a bunch of commuters happy as can be

[Jane Austin]

2. I have a friend who used to teach in Austin before she moved to NC.

She lived twenty-five miles outside of town where she could afford a decent house on a teacher's salary.

She had to leave home by five or six in the morning in order to beat the traffic.

A tax like that would have been a horrible blow to her.

[tbyg52]

3. I'd like to see them try to force me to put a black box in my car.

I'd take a hammer to the sucker.

[GOPisEvil]

4. Um, people who drive more, buy more gas, and pay more tax.

I can also control the amount that I pay by purchasing a more fuel efficient car if I choose to (or have to) live far from where I work. A by the mile tax hits people twice. Once when they buy gas, and again for each mile.

Here's a hint when considering if a policy is a good idea: if proposed by Rick Perry or any of his appointees or sycophants, assume it's a lousy one.