quote:

"Fuel-efficient vehicles have put such a big dent in gas tax revenues over the past few years that some state lawmakers say it's time for what they call a road usage fee."
^

... which of course they will levy on both electric AND gas vehicles, meaning gas vehicles will pay BOTH the gas tax and the "road usage fee."

quote:

Originally posted by chellim1:

quote:

"Fuel-efficient vehicles have put such a big dent in gas tax revenues over the past few years that some state lawmakers say it's time for what they call a road usage fee."
^

... which of course they will levy on both electric AND gas vehicles, meaning gas vehicles will pay BOTH the gas tax and the "road usage fee."

Yep, can't let those that are damaging our fragile Earth to not be required to pay more than those that are trying to save the Earth. Good point!

quote:

"I bought this car, for one, to save money on gas and also to be better for the environment,” said Kristen Hill, of Manchester. “(It feels like) a punishment on trying to do something right."

Welcome to the modern American Progressive Socialist ideology, Sweetie! No matter how correct you are you are still nothing more than a tax donkey that insists on voting stupid.

Dems be like: "Let's tax gasoline so people will buy more efficient vehicles and use less!"

Also Dems: "Holy shit! Our tax revenue is dropping because people are using more efficient vehicles! Let's tax them for that!"

Infrastructure has to be paid for. We all use it and we all benefit from it. Roadway wear and tear is a function of vehicle weight and not at all related to fuel consumption, so let's eliminate the gas tax altogether and charge a yearly fee based on gross vehicle weight.

Chuckwall you hit the nail on the head!

South Carolina already charges more to plate fuel efficient vehicles.

quote:

Roadway wear and tear is a function of vehicle weight and not at all related to fuel consumption, so let's eliminate the gas tax altogether and charge a yearly fee based on gross vehicle weight.

The flaw in that argument is in big, heavy but rarely used vehicles. I love my old Tahoe, but it sits in the garage most of the time where it is not causing any wear and tear on the roadway. It's no longer a daily driver; in the past several years it gets out on the road for less than 1000 miles/year.

quote:

Originally posted by honestlou:
You can’t fund infrastructure with gas taxes when everyone is driving electric.

FALSE. Are you aware that the moneys collected from gas taxes are actually put into the federal general fund? That means that they can be spent on ANYTHING the feds choose. And they do. There's plenty of tax money in the coffers to keep roads safe, the problem is politicians. Plain and simple.

*The 19-cent gas tax in Illinois was intended to be directed solely to the Road Fund and State Construction Fund and used exclusively for infrastructure improvements. However, According to the Illinois Economic Policy Institute, $6.8 billion in transportation funds was diverted by Illinois' legislature between FY02 to FY15 in order to plug budget deficits in non-transportation related areas.

I could go on and on. Are you aware that your Social Security taxes are actually used to buy Obamaphones?

I had this same thing happen with my home heating Propane.
When I put in my air tight wood burning stove the propane company wanted to charge me $75 a year lease on the 500gl tank that I had been paying a $1 a yr lease on.
I called and was told I was not using enough propane to make it profitable for them to keep a 500 gl tank at my house.
I complained that the government as well as the gas company always try to get everyone to conserve energy and when I do conserve I get penalized.
Sucks by that's the way it is.

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Why not tax bicyclists too? Require a tag and registration just like a motorcycle.

The town I grew up in in MA had this. No idea if it was statewide, but it existed. Probably still on the books.

quote:

Originally posted by zoom6zoom:

quote:

Why not tax bicyclists too? Require a tag and registration just like a motorcycle.

The town I grew up in in MA had this. No idea if it was statewide, but it existed. Probably still on the books.

I think any wheeled vehicle that uses the streets or roads should be registered, and any used at night must have working head and tail lights. I can't describe how many times I've almost rear-ended some fool on a bicycle who was riding at night with no lights or reflectors and wearing black clothing!

flashguy

quote:

"I bought this car, for one, to save money on gas and also to be better for the environment,” said Kristen Hill, of Manchester. “(It feels like) a punishment on trying to do something right."

I've ridden motorcycles (40-50 mpg) most of my life and I pay the same liquid fuel tax as you, Sweetie, and I don't receive any tax incentive from the feds.

As I see it, problem with the fuel tax system is greedy Politicians don't use those monies for road maintenance, rather they move those rebates into the General Fund to help balance their bloated budgets.

How soon before they tax non-smokers because tobacco tax revenue is down?

quote:

Originally posted by IntrepidTraveler:
How soon before they tax non-smokers because tobacco tax revenue is down?

Link to original video: https://youtu.be/aHSh5CgFQV8

quote:

Originally posted by jaaron11:
Infrastructure has to be paid for. We all use it and we all benefit from it. Roadway wear and tear is a function of vehicle weight and not at all related to fuel consumption, so let's eliminate the gas tax altogether and charge a yearly fee based on gross vehicle weight.

Let me get out of my van before you weigh it!

quote:

Originally posted by jaaron11:
Infrastructure has to be paid for. We all use it and we all benefit from it. Roadway wear and tear is a function of vehicle weight and not at all related to fuel consumption, so let's eliminate the gas tax altogether and charge a yearly fee based on gross vehicle weight.

And that's exactly right. Passenger cars of course contribute to road wear, but it's actually fairly small compared to commercial vehicles like tractor trailers and dump trucks which probably cause 90% of the wear on the road. Charging based on vehicle weight would actually make sense.

quote:

Originally posted by jaaron11:
Infrastructure has to be paid for. We all use it and we all benefit from it. Roadway wear and tear is a function of vehicle weight and not at all related to fuel consumption, so let's eliminate the gas tax altogether and charge a yearly fee based on gross vehicle weight.

Sounds fair to me. My 2015 BMW R1200R motorcycle weights 510 lbs, so how much should I have to pay?

25mpg and up? My Focus does way better than that and I have a heavy foot.

quote:

vehicles like tractor trailers and dump trucks which probably cause 90% of the wear on the road. Charging based on vehicle weight would actually make sense.

I guess you guys don't realize that those vehicles are already charged based on their weight.