Posted on 08/05/2009 7:48:11 PM PDT by Man50D
An Oregon congressman says he wants to test having a government GPS unit in every car so a tax could be imposed on the miles driven.
The proposal, H.R. 3311, which calls for a test project costing $150 million-plus, was introduced by Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore.
"Oregon has successfully tested a Vehicle Miles Traveled fee, and it is time to expand and test the VMT program across the country," he said in a statement on his website. "A VMT system can better assess fees based on use of our roads and bridges, as well as during times of peak congestion, than a fee based on fuel consumption.
"It is time to get creative and find smart ways to rebuild and renew America's deteriorating infrastructure," he said.
His plan calls for the Department of the Treasury to study the plan with projects in every state.
Blumenauer said the Oregon test "charged drivers for the number of miles they traveled rather the fuel they consumed. The test was convenient for drivers, protected personal privacy, and proved to be easily administrable."
(Excerpt) Read more at wnd.com ...
Might I suggest where the GPS unit might be placed on (or in) Rep. Blumenaures person?
I think members of Congress should have GPS chips implanted in their bodies so WE know where they are at all times.
Probably bragging about how they screwed the saps who pay taxes by trading in their old clunker on a nice, new, Government Motors, vehicle complete with OnStar, the federal control program soon to be standard in all GM and Chrysler products.
How saps like the so called, "progressives" can scream about their rights while always backing people and parties hell bent on taking away individual rights has always been a mystery to me. It's like they stand around waiting to be hypnotized by a blabbermouth who will be their worst nightmare so they can vote for them. Some kind of major guilt complex or something makes them yearn to be turned into serfs. Maybe it's because so many of them don't work for a living and maybe it's because they're just dense. Still, it's pretty strange.
have a nice day
No one purchase cars with these systems in them...or if you have one in the vehicle, take a sledge hammer to it!”
I thought they already had them in them...some kind of tracking thing for insurance purposes? geesh...I could swear I read that somewhere.
Somebody needs to put a GPS on congressman Blumenauer’s car so we can track his movements and see what sleezy motels and strip joints he stops at on his way home every night.
They already have GPS in all our cell phones. All they gotta do is tap into that and tax us for all the miles our cell phones travel.
They wanna know where to go to destroy your engine.
Seriously, these people are fascists.
What else would you call the VMT system but “vomit.” Maybe if we ridicule it (Alinsky-style), it will go away.
This is all about tax revenue in the face of rising milage cars, which would cause tax revenue to drop.
There is an easy way to get the same thing without being intrusive, and that's to just add a fee when you get your registration renewed each year. They check your odometer, and charge by the mile. No spying necessary.
But government? No way, no how... That's a big ol' Revolution trip-wire there.
The people in Orgeon elected this dweeb and should unelect him. What a complete A H.
Great way to sneak in the tax per mile again
Unfortunately the electric and water companies already have that idea covered so the GPS people would follow suit. If your meter goes bad they just average the bills from the last few months to give you your current fee. The amount rarely works out in a customer's favor so it's an incentive for people to leave the meters alone. The GPS brown shirts could also have a chart of expected use so if yours suddenly breaks they'll get their money anyway.
Sounds like a challenge to hackers though. Here's their chance to be real heroes.
I propose we implant a GPS in all congressmen and senators so we can keep track of them.
Ya, I predict that this will be an ADDITIONAL tax. It will not replace the current gas tax. The current gas tax will be said to be needed because the more gas you use, the higher tax you pay. The enviro liberals will want to shoot it up from the current level(is it still 18 cents a gallon federal tax?), up to $1 or more per gallon. This will be their penalty for those who still drive bigger or older cars that use more gas.
If this happens, they will get us coming and going, with the existing gas tax, plus this new mileage tax.
Everyone who is on the record as being in favor of liberal programs should pay a surtax to support them. Why should all of us pay for what only liberals want?
You beat me to it.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.