There are two things that concern me greatly about this proposal:
1) Even if the existing system of gas taxes and user fees doesn't begin to cover existing needs, it is still far, far preferential, IMHO, to a privatized system of charging tolls by the mile...especially since the bulk of the charges would be more than likely charged on freeways. How they would be able to force a charge on other less access-controlled facilities remains a mystery to me. At least with the existing system, road users are insured for the most part that their gas tax money is going toward highway construction, rather than being siphoned into politicians' pockets or diverted into other programs. I'm not too sure that most drivers -- especially those who aren't so wealthy and don't drive long commutes on freeways -- would appreciate the idea of paying a fee to a faceless privatized enbreasty.
2) Although I'm a great believer in using mbutt transit as an accompaniment to highways, and do believe that transit is woefully underfunded and abandoned to this day, I'm strongly opposed to targeting auto users for exclusive taxation merely to force them into using transit more. That sounds to me like a form of fiscal "social engineering" mounted by the type of pseudo-radical who argues that the only solution to ecological issues and traffic congestion is to confiscate all cars, tear down all freeways (or at least, privatize then and charge tolls so expensive to fund rail and bus-based transit), and raise the price of oil-gas to the point that auto use would be simply beyond the reach of most people. I may be a progressive and an enviromentalist, but I don't go THAT far...I still respect people's right of free choice, and understand why they still prefer private cars.
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Having said all that, though, I also find Froggie's idea of a mileage-based tax quite intriging; especially when used in conjunction with the federal gas tax to raise revenue. I would be more keen to keeping the Federal gas tax for Interstate and major projects; I'd prefer the states or (the local-regional authorities) use the mileage-based system to fund their needs.
My nickel....
Anthony
