What else can they come up with in California? They are already paying a lot for their gallon of gasoline, and soon may be paying more. [some emphasis, links added]
Someone must enjoy leading the nation in gas prices out West.
The latest tax will drive more taxpayers out of the state. Let’s check the story:
California drivers and Republican legislators are furious over a Democrat-led proposal that could see motorists taxed for each mile they drive.
With the state staring down a budget deficit in the billions and more Californians switching to electric vehicles, Democratic lawmakers are searching for new ways to shore up declining gas tax revenue.
Californians pay the second-highest gas price in the nation behind only Hawaii. In January, the average price was $4.23 per gallon, according to the American Automobile Association.
On Thursday, state legislators advanced Democrat Lori Wilson’s bill, AB 1421, which would direct the California Transportation Commission and the state Transportation Agency to continue studying options for a mileage-based tax, rather than implementing one.
So they are studying the proposal? Good luck with that, but aren’t there better things to study?
For example, how about a proposal that actually reduces gas prices? People in the Golden State drive a lot of miles, so cutting gas prices would be a good thing out there.
How about a proposal to make the state more attractive to businesses? The state can look at some problems: the high cost of living, strict environmental regulations, complex labor laws, and evolving employment dynamics.
Read rest at American Thinker
This is what happens when the state is broke. Newsom will be looking for more ways to rake in money to pay for his stuff ups.
I certainly think that they need to find someway to tax those who drive EVs pay into the highway funds since right now only those who drive vehicles with internal combustion engines are paying that thru gas and diesel taxes. Those driving EVs get to driven on roads that they are not paying for.
With only 3-4% of all registered vehicles in California being electric, currently the free ride that the owners are getting shouldn’t have that great of an impact. However around 22-25% of new car sales are electric, so this will change. The trouble is when addressing the issue of electric cars paying their fair share of road maintenance, the proposals I have seen would add a new tax not just to electric cars, but all vehicles. For instance, the proposed mileage taxes would be on all vehicles forcing owners of traditionally powered vehicles to be double taxed. A mileage tax would charge on a per mile bases, but the owner of gas power car would also pay the gas tax. This increases the burden on fossil vehicle owners, but brings in a lot more to the state. This is attractive to poorly run states such as California that always have financial problems.