Infrastructure Bill, Taxed per Mile

[pokismoki]

Tucked away on page 508 of the U.S. Senate’s 2,700-page, so-called “infrastructure” bill, are the plans for a national “per mile fee” pilot program. And it is exactly what it sounds like — the more you drive, the more you pay.

 

 

https://www.whec.com/news/fact-check-mileage-tax-included-in-infrastructure-bill/6205069/

 

[Grumpy Bear]

Read the entire link.

It isn't what it sounds like. 

 

Our current method for paying for roads/repairs is a gasoline tax. Federal is 18 cents per gallon then state add on from there. Currently those who drive electric drive FREE and those with very fuel efficient vehicles pay LESS for the same use of roads. This program is a five year PILOT program to be tested on VOLENTEERS to REPLACE the gas tax with some form of mileage tax so that ALL pay the same amount PER MILE OF USE. It needs study as tracking you mileage is a 'privacy' issue that needs STUDY to preserve your privacy and still be fair.

 

This link provided is the appropriation for the money to FUND that study. 

And the explanation for it's consideration

 

No need to yell FIRE in a school house full of children that won't read the link. 

 

 

Edited August 24, 2021 by Grumpy Bear

[Brian715]

If that's how we're going to call it then trucks and large SUVs with off road tires should also pay more, because a 7,000lb truck with mud terrains does far more damage to roads than a prius. I drive one of those trucks, but also commute in a hybrid electric to save money. This also will negatively impact those most in need of a break on it. Those that commute generally do so because they can't afford to live closer to the office, like me where housing close to the office is twice what it is 40 miles away. 

[KARNUT]

If it’s in the bill it will cost more money. Otherwise why do it. Never in my life if they propose something it ended up costing less. I mean really every thing cost more than it did months ago. It’s just standard procedure.

[pokismoki]

just wait to see what our power bills are in the next two years when EV's take over the roads.  they're gonna hit us hard.. my power this month jumped 20% and I'm in a cool climate so never ran the AC this summer

Edited August 26, 2021 by pokismoki

[Grumpy Bear]

On 8/25/2021 at 12:55 PM, Brian715 said:

This also will negatively impact those most in need of a break on it.

It's why it being studied. Someone will muck it up.  

On 8/26/2021 at 12:24 AM, pokismoki said:

just wait to see what our power bills are in the next two years when EV's take over the roads.  they're gonna hit us hard.. my power this month jumped 20% and I'm in a cool climate so never ran the AC this summer

Overly optimistic I think but that's just what I think. Increased power bill? Yes it will. But zero gasoline bill to offset it. Is it more important where your money is spent or how much money is spent. If the later is true then gasoline is going to be here quite awhile yet.

 

Think Energy Density!!

Think refueling time.

 

15 minutes or 15 hours and a hotel bill while you charge your next 250 miles

I can currently do nearly 700 miles on a tank and refill it in under 15 minutes.

How long does it take to charge up for 1400 miles?

 

Two years? Only if gasoline is OUTLAWED

 

Edited August 28, 2021 by Grumpy Bear

[Z45]

I worked 30 yrs for state Michigan DOT as a route survey technician.  A large percentage of highway funds are not even used for highways but for other social/political goals.  Bike paths, wetland mitigation, bus purchases/subsidies for cities that could not operate them on a profit. State buys the buses with transportation funding and gives them to the cities and pays the operating costs above the fare revenues which never pay for the cost.  A heck of a lot more that no one really knows of where highway tax $ are spent.     

[KARNUT]

14 minutes ago, elcamino said:

I worked 30 yrs for state Michigan DOT as a route survey technician.  A large percentage of highway funds are not even used for highways but for other social/political goals.  Bike paths, wetland mitigation, bus purchases/subsidies for cities that could not operate them on a profit. State buys the buses with transportation funding and gives them to the cities and pays the operating costs above the fare revenues which never pay for the cost.  A heck of a lot more that no one really knows of where highway tax $ are spent.     

You mean like those shovel ready jobs 10 years ago? They spent the money on the shovels. Nothing left for the jobs. What was the name of the solar manufacturer that billons went to that failed? Well there’re  in charge again. What a mess.

[Z45]

1 hour ago, KARNUT said:

You mean like those shovel ready jobs 10 years ago? They spent the money on the shovels. Nothing left for the jobs. What was the name of the solar manufacturer that billons went to that failed? Well there’re  in charge again. What a mess.

Those shovel ready jobs in our region were few and far between.  Most was just flimsy resurfacing projects and heavily advertised by the gov't as your tax dollars at work.  Employee motto was; 'paint it black and don't look back".

 

I recall getting new vehicles one year. We always got 1500 series trucks/van,suburban but we got all 2500's.  They said, Fed passed trans bill that mandated a certain % of our light duty vehicles (<8600 GVWR) had be "alternative fuel" and they only way around that was with 2500's. So more cost for vehicles while using gas tax to make gas vehicle obsolete.  In our part of the state (da U.P.) there was very few CNG facilities but that did not stop them from leasing four CNG powered Impala's for our region and dispatching them here.  Most sat because it was over 100 miles between filling stations and when a driver ran it empty there was no easy way to get it refilled.  No one considered that when they leased them!  When lease was up they went back with low miles.. 

Edited August 26, 2021 by elcamino

[It's Tim]

We should capture all the political hot air and do something useful with it.

 

[Grumpy Bear]

1 hour ago, elcamino said:

I worked 30 yrs for state Michigan DOT as a route survey technician.  A large percentage of highway funds are not even used for highways but for other social/political goals.  Bike paths, wetland mitigation, bus purchases/subsidies for cities that could not operate them on a profit. State buys the buses with transportation funding and gives them to the cities and pays the operating costs above the fare revenues which never pay for the cost.  A heck of a lot more that no one really knows of where highway tax $ are spent.     

 

I have a younger brother who drove OTR in the Midwest. Missouri pasted a law some years ago that mandated all funds collected for roads to be used on roads. Boy do they have some nice roads now....or did last time he/I was there.  

 

Are there not enough issues? Do we need to add to them speculating, misrepresenting and twisting the news? Headline grabbing? For a like?

 

 

 

 

Edited August 26, 2021 by Grumpy Bear

[KARNUT]

40 minutes ago, elcamino said:

Those shovel ready jobs in our region were few and far between.  Most was just flimsy resurfacing projects and heavily advertised by the gov't as your tax dollars at work.  Employee motto was; 'paint it black and don't look back".

 

I recall getting new vehicles one year. We always got 1500 series trucks/van,suburban but we got all 2500's.  They said, Fed passed trans bill that mandated a certain % of our light duty vehicles (<8600 GVWR) had be "alternative fuel" and they only way around that was with 2500's. So more cost for vehicles while using gas tax to make gas vehicle obsolete.  In our part of the state (da U.P.) there was very few CNG facilities but that did not stop them from leasing four CNG powered Impala's for our region and dispatching them here.  Most sat because it was over 100 miles between filling stations and when a driver ran it empty there was no easy way to get it refilled.  No one considered that when they leased them!  When lease was up they went back with low miles.. 

My company did work for governments city and state over the years they all did the same at the  end of their fiscal year. Spend what moneys are left or our budget will be cut instead of increased. They bust our butts over silly compliance rules burning 1/2 the year. Then forget to dedicate personal to oversee the project. The end of the year approaches they start throwing money at you. We didn’t play the game long. Some started wondering out loud if we had boats or hunting leases. Man do we have big jobs coming up next year. Some are no bid. No thanks, see y’all.