Some observations:

  • Most of the vehicles that use fossil fuels have been modified and/or downgraded in power over the years…by federal mandates…such that the fuel usage of the engine is minimized…in order to minimize emissions…based on their Climate Change policies…
  • They prefer that you quit using fossil fuel-powered vehicles, trains, trucks, etc altogether…they prefer that you use only electric battery-powered vehicles…commute in groups…use public transportation…ride a bicycle…or walk… 
  • They do not have a “road/fuel tax” on electric vehicles…which reduces the income related to transportation fuel taxes collected by the State and Federal Governments…
  • As they minimize fuel usage through greater engine efficiency and reduced power in fossil fuel-powered vehicles…the resulting “fuel taxes” are also reduced accordingly…
  • The government never met a tax it didn’t like…and they typically only want taxes to increase over time…not decrease…  
  • People following the mandates…recommendations…and policies of government agencies and groups have reduced the government’s income related to transportation…and typically…they are not happy campers about this end of the Climate Change spectrum…

So…now they are coming up with new plans to increase the government’s revenue based on the travel of the citizens…a new “Road Tax” (“Road User Charge“)…based on your mileage traveled…in Oklahoma…

ODOT:  Road User Charge Task Force 

https://oklahoma.gov/odot/about/boards-and-task-forces0/road-user-charge.html

The 2021 Bill creating the Task Force…

HB 1712 – Transportation; declaring legislative intent; creating the Oklahoma Road User Charge Program; creating the Road User Charge Task Force; effective date.

http://www.oklegislature.gov/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=HB1712&Session=2100

The Final Bill:  http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENR/hB/HB1712%20ENR.PDF

The Sponsors of the Bill:  

Brian Hill (Rep – District 47 – no longer in office)

John Haste (Rep – District 36)

Some of the issues related to this proposed new “tax” include…

  • When this tax is initiated…will the current fuel/road taxes that are used for fossil fuel-powered vehicles be eliminated?  Will the new user tax be similar in costs to the current fuel taxes for these vehicles?  Will EVs be treated the same with regard to power usage as fossil fuel-powered vehicles?  Why not just put this charge on EVs and let the fossil fuel-powered vehicles keep paying fuel taxes as they are now?  Why not put a “tax” on electric power used to charge batteries…on an energy unit basis?
  • What will they charge (per mile) for each type of vehicle being taxed…whether battery-powered or fossil fuel-powered…large engine vs. small engine…weight or size of vehicle…fuel efficiency level…etc…  And how do they determine or estimate the true “fuel efficiency” for each vehicle…  Will the energy usage be monitored, calculated, and then averaged by actual energy used versus actual mileage driven?  Do different types of vehicles get taxed differently…or is it on a “per energy unit” basis?  Or both?  Who decides and how do they decide what the energy efficiency is for each type and age of vehicle?  Will the type of road traveled change the tax rates…such as Interstate Highways and Turnpikes versus Graveled or Dirt Roads?  Will they dictate maintenance requirements on vehicles?  How far will they go?
  • Then…there is the problem of how to track the actual mileage driven…versus the fuel used…  Do they install mileage detection systems…and/or GPS systems…on each and every vehicle (if not already on the newer vehicles)?  Do they trust the owners to provide the information?  How do they monitor and record the information they receive?  Will they track our every move and record it?
  • And…do they send out a monthly bill for the tax?  Do they charge drivers a fee at the pump or plug-in?  How will the government prevent fraudulent “driving”?  How do they track which vehicle is being charged or filled and driven?  Does each vehicle have a “digital identification” and a “GPS” system?  Is the owner responsible for the tax…or the driver?

You can see where there are a lot of questions that should be answered…and there is a lot of room for the government to play with the numbers…and modify them at any time in the future…as based on politics and ideologies…

Email from a friend January 12, 2024

shared via R3publicans