Keep in mind, newer vehicles are like a large, cashless transponder.
They know where you go.
And a tax on diesel is a tax on everything as costs get passed on to the end consumer.
Transportation nominee says gas tax hike possible to fund roads
After the hearing, a spokesman for Buttigieg sought to clarify his remarks. "A variety of options need to be on the table to ensure we can invest in our highways and create jobs, but increasing the gas tax is not among them."
Congress has not boosted the 18.4-cents-per-gallon federal gasoline tax since 1993. That tax is now worth just 10.2 cents after adjusting for inflation.
"There are several different models," Buttigieg added. "In the short- to medium-term that could include revisiting the gas tax, adjusting it and or connecting it to inflation."
He also said raising revenue based on vehicle miles traveled is possible but acknowledged privacy and technological concerns.
Since 2008, Congress has transferred about $141 billion to the Highway Trust Fund, according to the Government Accountability Office, to pay for road repairs rather than rely on gas tax revenue.
Self-driving off-road vehicles?
Transportation nominee hints at new regulations to boost development of self-driving cars
Buttigieg urges big funds for Transportation
Buttigieg did not specify where money could come from for big investments in infrastructure, and wouldn’t rule out a tax increase. He floated the possibility of a major change in how highways are funded, such as by
converting from the current Highway Trust Fund, which is paid for through the gas tax, to a “vehicle miles traveled” alternative that would tax drivers based on their road mileage.
Now, people will come in here talking about the switch to electric vehicles.
1. What will we pave roads with if there were no oil-based asphalt? (Shingles are asphalt too)
2. What happens during rolling blackouts in Cali?
3. EV's don't pay a gas tax, so would be more instrumental in a tax-per-mile approach.
4. How to we power the EV's?
Nuclear? One meltdown of a reactor and all benefits are gone.
Solar? Black absorbs a lot of heat, and if you ever passed a solar farm, you know they usually clear-cut a forest for panels.
5. Battery technology isn't as green as you want to believe.
I can keep going, but hopefully you get the point.
Everybody has the answers, but few understand how much is actually produced from oil. Even your aspirin is oil-based.
And if you are so "green", why drive a 19MPG 4Runner?
Let the "love" of logic commence!
National gas tax hike talk is back, or "Tax-by-mile" driven.
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