Center for American Progress suggests national tax on mileage

7/11/14, "Center for American Progress wants mileage-based highway fee," The Hill, Keith Lang

"The Center for American Progress is calling for Congress to ditch the federal gas tax in lieu of a system where drivers pay fees for road construction based on how many miles they travel.

The proposed mileage-based system has been controversial in previous transportation funding debates because critics question how government would monitor the traveling habits of drivers without infringing upon their privacy.

But the Center for American Progress said Friday that taxing drivers based on how far they drive is a much more sustainable system than the current 18.4 cents per gallon federal gas tax. With people driving more fuel-efficient cars, the gas tax isn't bringing in enough money and Congress is scrambling to reach a deal to prevent a cut-off in federal road repair funds.

The mileage-based taxation system was one of four recommendations made Friday by the Center for American Progress, which was founded by White House adviser John Podesta.

The group’s other ideas included a 15-cent gas tax hike to “stabilize” federal highway funding, which would be used to transition government away from the gas tax, and a $100 million mileage-based fee pilot program in 10-15 states.

The recommendations come as Congress is moving toward approving a temporary stopgap that would infuse about $10 billion into the Department of Transportation’s beleaguered Highway Trust Fund. 

The gas tax has been the traditional source for funding for the trust fund since it was created in the 1950s. It hasn't been hiked since 1993.

Budget analysts have predicted a $16 billion shortfall next year between gas tax revenue and what Congress wants to spend on roads. The gas tax typically brings in about $34 billion per year, compared with $50 billion in annual road and transit spending.

The Transportation department has warned that it would have to cut its funding to states by 28 percent if Congress does not act quickly to replenish the Highway Trust Fund.

Center for American Progress Director of Infrastructure Policy Kevin DeGood said it was time for Congress to look for other funding sources besides the gas tax if it hopes to craft a meaningful long-term transportation funding bill.

“For too long, Congress avoided addressing our transportation funding problem,” he said.

“Americans need a long-term solution. Mileage fees offer an equitable and effective way to provide for our transportation needs.”"

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Comment: Evil discretionary travel such as to MLB stadiums would be first to go for average Americans. PS. Unpleasant white patch behind most of this post is vandalism by my longtime google hackers.

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